Date: 2005-03-16
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. it is a pleasure to be here on the floor speaking on this subject since some may know I left this place. for 16 years. and coming back to the floor of the House and having an opportunity to serve on the Budget Committee has given me a perspective that I did not have before. Being away from this place for 16 years gave me a little bit of a birds eye view of how the rest of the public views what we do here. And I just must say that during the several years that I was embarking on my endeavor to return to this House. I was constantly reminded by the people that I came into contact with in my district as to the spending spree they believe the Congress has gone on and been involved in over the last number of years. The amount of discretionary spending that we have had in terms of its increase is remarkable. I wish they could go back 16 years from when I left this wonderful institution back in 1989 to show what we are talking about. This chart merely goes back to 1994. but it shows us spending $513 billion in 1994. and we are talking about now stretching our way to $900 billion. I was in my office watching some of this debate. and I heard what appeared to me to be crocodile tears expressed by some on the other side about how much we are cutting. And I guess only in this institution is a little restraint in the amount that we are spending in addition to what we have spent in the past considered a cut. Where I come from. cut is not a four letter word. Most American citizens. most of the people in my district believe that if you spent too much. maybe you ought to look on the side of spending restraint. The response we got in committee time and time again from the other side was. why do we not just raise taxes? AndI cannot even calculate the increase in taxes they suggested to cover all the programs they want. As part of the requirements under the budget act. the Budget Committee gives an opportunity for any Member in the House to appear for 10 minutes to talk about any particular matter within the province of the Budget Committee. And I was privileged to accept that duty for perhaps the last hour. And I remember those coming up to talk about the Community Development Block Grant program. They even were effective in citing a quotation from the mayor of the town in which I was born. someone whom I know. And in response to that. I said. I think it is a worthy program. but could .you please tell me. if we do not cut this. where we should find the money to fund it? And the response I received was. that is not our job. that is somebody elses job. And that is the problem with the Congress. at least as I see it. It is always somebody elses job. But the job of the Budget Committee is to bring us. I think. some fiscal sanity by suggesting with some enforcement mechanisms. numbers within which we will live. which is no different than what we do in our daily lives and our family lives. And all I can say is. having been gone from this place for 16 years. the image that I obtained from people on the outside looking in is. frankly. not that we have been Very restraining in terms of our spending. The average person would. I think. stand With their mouth agape at some of the conversation that has been on this floor. We are not really restraining ourselves very badly when you look at the numbers that we have seen here. Only in Washington. D.C. could a restraint on increased spending be considered a cut. That may be very simplistic. Mr. Chairman. I am sorry for being simplistic. but I have been away from this place for a long time. and where I come from. again. cut is not a four letter word. And I would just ask. if people could understand. if other Members could have the chance I had to leave this place for 16 years .and come back and see the change. people coming to us asking for spending. no longer requesting it. but coming with the expectation that it is an entitlement in the area of discretionary spending. It is so different than* what it was 16 years ago. It is. as we used to say. the difference between night and day. I want to thank the gentleman. the chairman of this committee. for leading our committee and bringing forward a product which will put us on the path towards restraint. the type of restraint that not only is necessary but is expected by the folks back home.