One of the Nation's top priorities is to pay down the more than $5 trillion debt we have accrued.  Paying down this debt now will vastly improve the quality of our lives but more importantly this will improve the quality of life for our children by reducing taxes, ensuring higher standards of living and providing greater access to capital.  

The Democratic budget reduces taxes by $900 billion over the next ten years, which is less than what the Republican budget proposal offers. This plan would permit a short-term tax cut for all taxpayers in order to stimulate the economy.  It would also permit long-term changes such as elimination of the marriage penalty and higher IRA and 401(k) contributions.

But, the most compelling argument for the Democratic budget is that it eliminates $1 trillion more in debt than the Republican budget proposal.  

I believe in being responsible and paying our bills now while we have the money to do so.  It is wrong to put off paying our debts for future generations. 

TO READ CONGRESSMAN ANDREWS' FLOOR SPEECH, GO TO THE "FLOOR STATEMENTS" ICON OF THIS WEBSITE AND CLICK THE ENTRY FOR MARCH 28, 2001. GENERALLY SPEECHES ARE POSTED WITHIN 24 HOURS IT IS POSTED.