[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS POSSIBLE

  (Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, as my new Governor just 
mentioned in her first budget address, in South Dakota, we don't spend 
money we don't have.
  South Dakota has never incurred any general obligation debt, and that 
doesn't happen by accident. It takes decades of prudent and, sometimes, 
unpopular decisions. I am proud to be a part of that history.
  Now, in Washington, the story is a little different. We haven't 
always had that same kind of intestinal fortitude, so our debt is $22 
trillion.
  Mr. Speaker, I know there is plenty of blame to go around, but I am 
more interested in solutions. Taking our medicine--and we do need to 
take our medicine--will not be easy, and we can't do it all at once, 
but I am ready to take the tough votes. I am hopeful that some of my 
colleagues are as well.
  After all, fiscal responsibility is possible. Just ask South Dakota.

                          ____________________