|
|
| Freshmen Forums Reps. Sununu and McIntyre February 12, 1997 |
|---|
Questions asked
in this forum:
What is your position on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution? What is the status of legislation to help fund higher education? How should Congress address the Medicare issue? Paying for the President's education proposals. REP. MCINTYRE: Why are you a Democrat? REP. SUNUNU: What are the Republicans doing to investigate the taping of Newt Gingrich's phone conversation? REP. SUNUNU: What should be done to address the investment deficit in the United States?
Return to @the Capitol.
Scrutinize the work of several major Congressional committees in online forums with the chairs and ranking members.
Begin an ongoing dialogue with twelve new members of Congress.
Follow the first year in Congress of Freshmen Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jay Johnson (D-WI)
A question from Kristin Jacobs of Sylvania, OH: Balanced Budget Amendment
How could anyone be against it? Sure let's balance the budget by 2002, but what happens after that? Do we start all over again being in debt? What kind of future does that ensure our children? I may spend the rest of my life paying off the debt but I sure don't want my children to.
Rep. John Sununu responds:
I very much agree that expanding federal deficits pose one of the greatest threats to our country's fiscal security and that of our children. Even though we have an greement that the budget can be balanced by 2002, an agreement that the President will sign still appears far away. For that reason, I support a Balanced Budget Amendment. The passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment will send a clear message to the country and to Washington that we are committed to putting our financial house in order. Government must live within its own means just as we ask all Americans to live within their means.
A balanced budget will help to make college and housing more affordable for everyone by lowering the inerest rates as much as two percent. And lower interest rates will strengthen the economy, helping raise productivity and wages. These universal improvements in the quality of life for all Americans should be no further delayed. The Balanced Budget Amendment sets a clear benchmark for enjoying such benefits as soon as possible.
Rep. Mike McIntyre responds:
I am pleased that one of my first official legislative duties was to call for common sense government that can balance its budget. As a part of a bi-partisan group of Congressmen who co-sponsored the balanced budget amendment resolution in the House, I believe that the amendment will provide a safeguard against a repeat of the fiscally irresponsible tax legislation of the 1980s, which left a legacy of debt for future generations.
I agree with you, Kristin, that we must not resort to deficit spending once we get our budget balanced. It just doesn't make sense to spend billions more than we make. I believe that if the American people and the elected officials can work together we can reach a balanced budget and maintain it.
The PBS NewsHour is Funded in part by: Additional Foundation and Corporate Sponsors
Program
Support
From:
Copyright © 1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved. Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station.
