[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  BUDGET SURPLUS BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last night President Bush told the American 
people they deserve tax relief. And he is right. He said ``the growing 
surplus exists because taxes are too high and government is charging 
more than it needs. The American people have been overcharged and, on 
their behalf, I am here to ask for a refund.''
  Well, I am on the President's side. We are not talking about a little 
surplus. We are talking about enough money to pay down the debt; enough 
money to bolster and save Social Security; enough money to preserve 
Medicare; enough money to pay off every dime of public debt that will 
become liquid over the next 10 years; enough money to strengthen our 
military; enough money to keep $1 trillion set aside for needed 
spending. And we still have $1.6 trillion left over.
  How can anyone think we do not have enough for this tax cut? The 
surplus belongs to the people, not to us.
  After we have done the work we are elected to do, it is our duty to 
refund the rest back to the taxpayers who have overpaid. It is not the 
government's money.

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