Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton: on Budget & Economy
Al Gore:
1993: Tie-break vote on budget; also passed House by 1 vote
The great budget battle finally ended in August, with the passage of Bill's economic plan. Before the vote, I had spoken with wavering Democrats. One Republican Congresswoman called me to explain that she agreed with the President's goal to tame the
deficit but had been ordered by her leadership to vote no regardless of her convictions. In the end, not a single Republican voted for the balanced budget package. It squeaked through the House by one vote, and Vice President Gore in his official role as
President of the Senate had to vote to break a 50-50 vote tie. Several courageous Democrats, who did what they believed to be in America's long-term interests, lost in the next election.The plan wasn't everything the
Administration had wanted, but it signaled the return of fiscal responsibility for the government and the beginning of an economic turnaround for the country. To pay for these reforms, the plan raised taxes on gasoline and on highest-income Americans.
Source: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, p.179
Nov 1, 2003
Bill Clinton:
1993 budget signaled the return of fiscal responsibility
Bill's economic plan [finally passed in August 1993]. Before the vote, I had spoken with wavering Democrats. In the end, not a single Republican voted for the balanced budget package. It squeaked through the House by one vote, and Al Gore had to vote to
break a 50-50 vote tie.The plan wasn't everything the Administration had wanted, but it signaled the return of fiscal responsibility for the government and the beginning of an economic turnaround for the country, unprecedented in American history.
The plan slashed the deficit in half; extended the life of Medicare Trust Fund; expanded a tax cut called the Earned Income Tax Credit, which benefited fifteen million lower-income working Americans' reformed the student loan program, saving taxpayers
billions of dollars; and created empowerment zones an enterprise communities that provided tax incentives for investing in distressed communities. To pay for these reforms, the plan raised taxes on gasoline and on highest-income Americans.
Source: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, p.179
Nov 1, 2003
Rick Lazio:
2000: Upstate "turning the corner" viewed as out-of-touch
Our first debate was I Buffalo on September 13 and was moderated by a Buffalo native, Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press.
After a series of questions about health care, the upstate economy and education, the questions also covered school vouchers, the environment and other local issues, and that's when Lazio made a critical mistake.
He said that the upstate economy had "turned the corner." But to anyone who lived upstate or who had spent time there, Lazio sounded out of touch. By then
I had visited the region frequently and had held extensive discussions with residents about the problems of job loss and young people leaving the area. I had also developed an economic plan for the region that voters were taking seriously.
Source: Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, p.519-520
Nov 1, 2003
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2019