[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECENT LEGISLATION CREATING LARGER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that a lot of our recent 
legislation will create even larger government programs. We face large 
deficits; yet we continue to spend, and I am concerned.
  Recently we had several amendments here on the House floor to reduce 
spending by 1 percent across the board, yet they failed. We have 
increased spending on education, agricultural subsidies, and AIDS in 
Africa, and a tax rebate for those who do not pay taxes. Now, honest 
men will call this income redistribution. We also have a new 
prescription drug benefit close at hand.
  If we continue to add new government programs, we will create even a 
bigger and bigger government. Instead, we should try to solve our 
problems with conservative and free market principles, that is, bring 
choice, competition, and personal responsibility to our legislative 
initiatives.

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