Friday, January 28, 2000
Area Republicans pan president's proposals
'What he said . . . doesn't add up'
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Tristate Republicans criticized President Clinton's State of the Union address Thursday night for being laden with proposals that would add to federal spend ing.
“The president says he'd like to eliminate the national debt, but first he'd like to boost federal spending by $31 billion. That's a little like announcing you're going on a diet and going to Outback Steakhouse to celebrate,” said Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester.
“Every dime of that new spending is a dime that won't be used to pay down the debt, strengthen Social Security or reform the tax code.”
Said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio: “If you listen carefully, what he said tonight doesn't add up. He's talked about massive increases in spending, reducing the debt and reducing taxes. The only way he can do all of that is by increasing taxes, which we all oppose.”
Mr. Voinovich said the president continues to avoid more critical issues, such as Social Security and Medicare.
Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati, accused the president of wanting to “throw tax dollars around like confetti at a ticker-tape parade.”
He added: “I think we ought to stop the Washington spending spree and return the money to taxpayers in the form of tax relief and pay down the national debt and save Social Security.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the number of spending proposals was dizzying.
“President Clinton unleashed a barrage of new government spending programs, spending nearly $4 billion every minute that he spoke. In fact, he is spending money faster than the government can print it,” Mr. McConnell said.
“I thought the president gave a good speech, as he usually does,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park. “I was glad to see him move our way on key issues on marriage penalty relief and the tax code.”
But Mr. Portman added, “Once again, my concern is this president loves to overprom ise.”
Sen. Michael DeWine, R-Ohio, agreed the president gave a good speech. “Obviously, we don't have the money to fund everything he asked for tonight.”
One of the area's few Democrats, Rep. Baron Hill of Seymour, Ind., found the president following up on an idea Mr. Hill promoted last fall: creating smaller high schools around the country so students would feel more of a sense of a community and less alienated.
Mr. Hill came up with the idea in legislation offered last year. In part, it was a response to the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.
“For a long time, I've been saying that bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to our schools,” Mr. Hill said.
“Research shows students in smaller schools have better attendance records and are less likely to get in fights or join gangs.”
Tristaters: Clinton packed a punch
Area Republicans pan president's proposals
Text of State of the Union address
AP coverage
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