[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  ``BUDGET WOES? JUST DON'T PASS ONE''

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the headline in the Los 
Angeles Times read, ``Budget Woes? Just don't pass one.'' Now that's a 
novel idea.
  There must be all kinds of problems that Congress can ignore. I think 
that we can apply it to a number of things that are happening right 
now: Oil spill woes? Think about it tomorrow. Fannie and Freddie 
problems? Maybe a solution next year. Entitlement spending out of 
control? Just don't think about it. It's too bad our constituents don't 
have the same luxury of ignoring their budgets.
  The national debt currently is $12.36 trillion. The President's 
budget calls for $3.8 trillion in Federal spending, which will put the 
deficit at $1.6 trillion. These are numbers the majority wants to keep 
quiet. In my mind, it would behoove the majority to take a look at the 
spending and take an honest look at how to get it under control. 
Instead, the President has asked for the power of the line-item veto. 
It would seem to me that we could do a good job with a red pencil if 
the majority would allow it. But that would be real work right now, and 
apparently we don't do that.

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