[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H8749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE ECONOMY AND THE DEFICIT

  (Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, the past few years the Republican rule in 
Washington has left our Nation severely crippled with debt. Reckless 
fiscal policies have turned record surpluses into record deficits in 6 
short years. Democrats believe that fiscal responsibility is a crucial 
ingredient in good government.
  When we assume the majority in Congress next year, Democrats in this 
body will implement a pay-as-you-go plan for spending that will put our 
Nation back on the right financial path. Pay-as-you-go is the policy 
that helped us create those record surpluses in the late 1990s, 
surpluses that have been eliminated with tax breaks for the wealthiest 
few over the last 6 years. We must be accountable for every dollar that 
is allocated through this Congress, not constantly passing massive debt 
on to our children and grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, after Republicans refused to live up to their promises 
of fiscal restraint, the American people turned to Democrats to get our 
Nation's books out of the red. When the next Congress begins, we will 
start the process by using commonsense measures such as pay-as-you-go.




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