[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REPUBLICAN FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY, HOUSE REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO CHANGE 
                                 COURSE

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, the other side will once again try to spin 
their 2007 budget as fiscally responsible. The American people know 
better. For 5 years now, Republicans have controlled both the Congress 
and the White House, and for 5 years our budget deficit has been 
spiraling out of control. Two years ago, former House majority leader 
Dick Armey told the Wall Street Journal, and I am quoting, ``I am 
sitting here and I am upset about the deficit and I am upset about 
spending. There is no way I can pin that on the Democrats. Republicans 
own the town.''
  That is a former Republican leader talking about their fiscal 
irresponsibilities.
  For 5 years now those who own the town created the fourth largest 
budget deficit in American history. According to the Congressional 
Budget Office, the 2000 budget those who own the town plan to bring to 
the floor this week is the fourth most fiscally irresponsible budget in 
history, creating an additional $348 billion debt, and yet those who 
own the town try to claim their fiscal responsibility.
  Members of their own party don't even believe that anymore.

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