[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 122 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H8745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE PRESIDENT SHOULD PUT DEBT REDUCTION AHEAD OF SPENDING AND AGREE TO 
                       REPUBLICAN 90/10 PROPOSAL

  (Mr. HERGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, it has been 22 days since the Congress 
proposed to lock away 100 percent of the social security and Medicare 
surpluses and dedicate at least 90 percent of the total budget surplus 
for public debt reduction. It has been 22 days that the Clinton-Gore 
administration has refused to answer our calls for debt reduction.
  There will be an estimated $268 billion surplus this fiscal year. Our 
question he simple: Should it be used to pay off the public debt, or 
should it be spent on ongoing Washington programs?

                              {time}  1015

  Republicans are for using the surplus to pay off the debt. Where do 
President Clinton and Vice President Gore stand? Our children and 
grandchildren deserve better than to inherit mountains of debt.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the President and Vice President to put debt 
reduction ahead of spending and agree to our 90-10 percent proposal.

                          ____________________