[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A BUDGET THAT SPENDS TOO MUCH, TAXES TOO MUCH, AND BORROWS TOO MUCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the American 
people are witnessing one of the greatest magic tricks of all time. The 
2010 budget proposed by this administration and currently under 
consideration by this legislative body is worthy of being mentioned 
with the greatest illusions created by Houdini himself.
  This budget proposal is on one hand being held out as addressing the 
challenges of our Nation while taking steps to reduce the deficit. This 
one hand being shown to the American people reveals the ideas of 
reducing entitlement spending, partially fixing the AMT, and creating 
an emergency reserve fund. And while the magician waves his hand and 
distracts the American people, the other hand is out of public view, 
and this is where the trick is being played. This other hand contains 
the real instruments of this budget: More Federal spending on more 
Federal programs; more taxes on all American families and small 
businesses; and a Federal deficit higher than in the past 4 years 
combined.
  Simply put, Mr. Speaker, the end result of this magic trick is a 
budget that spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much. This 
budget proposal increases spending to $3.9 trillion, nearly one-third 
of the gross domestic product, a rate not seen in this country since 
World War II.
  To put this into perspective, under this budget nearly $1 out of $3 
in the entire American economy will be a result of Federal government 
spending. And what does this huge increase in government spending go 
towards?
  Approximately $1 trillion will be spent on an increase in entitlement 
spending over the next decade. More than $600 billion will be spent on 
government-run health care, socialized medicine. And, more than $1.1 
trillion will be spent on more discretionary spending, that is, 
optional spending, with several government agencies receiving budget 
increases of more than 30 percent.
  Now, where does this great magician get the money to pay for all this 
increased government spending and programs? By picking the pockets of 
the American public.
  Here, again, the great illusionist holds out one hand and claims they 
will only increase taxes on the rich while giving tax cuts to the other 
95 percent of all of us American taxpayers. However, once again, the 
other hand is hidden away, and this is where the trick happens. The 
real result of the tax trick in this budget is more taxes on America's 
small businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you, in these tough economic times, with rising 
unemployment, is a tax increase on small businesses, the engine that 
drives our economy, really the best course to take? How about 
resurrecting the death tax, which this budget does. Is that an 
appropriate course of action? I think not. I ask, what does an increase 
in capital gains taxes while cutting the tax deduction for the interest 
paid on mortgages do to stimulate our economy?
  And I am sure that the 95 percent of Americans who are expecting a 
promised tax cut will find that money useful when it comes time to pay 
their share of the new $646 billion cap-and-trade--so-called cap-and-
trade, I call it cap-and-tax--energy tax that will result in higher 
costs on electricity, natural gas, home heating, gasoline, and all 
goods and services in America.
  Just looking at my home State alone, with this new energy tax 
Georgians will see their disposable income reduced by $941; and the 
State is projected to lose up to 62,000 jobs by 2020. Even Houdini 
can't hide these numbers.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, just when the American people think they have seen 
the finale of this magic trick, they are then surprised with an ending 
twist. This is a magic twist that will be replayed for their children 
and grandchildren.
  By their own estimates, the current deficit would decrease by half if 
this administration did nothing and we kept spending constant. We 
cannot continue this magic trick. We must stop this irresponsible 
budget that is being proposed by the administration.

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