[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 20665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE DEBT

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it has been 22 days ago since 
Republicans asked the President and Vice President to join us in 
dedicating 90 percent of next year's surplus to eliminating the 
national debt. Even last night, the Vice President said he wanted to 
reduce the debt. But as of this morning, we have not heard a word from 
either one of them.
  I am curious, what are they waiting for? Could it be because the Vice 
President has proposed over $1 trillion in new government spending? I 
think it is. It seems the Vice President cares more about spending the 
surplus than saving it. Why else has he been silent on joining our 
efforts to eliminate the debt?
  This Democrat administration spending spree will jeopardize the 
health of Social Security and Medicare, and that is just wrong. I tell 
the Vice President, come on, together let us eliminate the national 
debt. Social Security and Medicare depend on it.

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