[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KEEPING FISCAL DISCIPLINE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES
(Mr. TANCREDO asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the work of the
chairman of the Committee on the Budget, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr.
Nussle), and the Republican members of that Committee on the Budget. As
we all know, this year has been very challenging as the results of the
attacks of September 11 and the downturn in our economy.
Mr. Speaker, we will hear a lot of people talking about this budget
today. As always, a great deal of rhetoric will emanate from this
House. There is one thing that seems to frighten the members of the
Democratic minority here more than anything else.
There are a couple of words that absolutely petrify them, apparently;
it is called ``balanced budget.'' They do not know what it is, they had
never had one during the time they were in charge of this body, but we
are presenting them with one today. It is a scary thing for them,
unfortunately.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that if we accepted all of the
17 amendments offered in the Committee on the Budget this year by
members of the minority, we would increase spending over the next 5
years by $205 billion and require $175 billion in additional taxes.
That is the old way of doing business. There is a better way. It is
called a balanced budget. It is called defending America, and that is
what this budget does.
____________________