[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           FIXING THE BUDGET

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Well, we just heard from the Republican side of the 
aisle that they are ready to make the tough fiscal choices. 
Unfortunately, they are about 8 years and $5 trillion short with their 
newfound fiscal conservatism.
  Remember, George Bush inherited a surplus. What was the answer to the 
surplus? Tax cuts. Then we had the attacks of 9/11. What was the answer 
to that? Tax cuts. Then we had the misbegotten war in Iraq. What was 
the answer to that? Tax cuts. A war fought on borrowed money and tax 
cuts. And then we had the bank collapse and the recession growing into 
a depression. And what was the answer of George Bush? Tax cuts. And 
what is the answer of the Republicans today? Tax cuts.
  For them to say they are for fiscal responsibility and honest 
budgeting after those 8 years is laughable. The Obama administration is 
going to give it straight to the American people tonight. They have 
made a hash out of it, and we are going to try to fix it, but it is 
going to take some time.

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