Real Reform Now

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, remarkably, the reliably Democratic Washington Post, in a lead editorial last week, quoted Senator Barack Obama in 2006 as saying, ``The fact that we are here today to debate America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.''

Today, President Obama is warning that the debt limit must be passed or there will be economic Armageddon. Sadly, it is more clear than ever that reckless government borrowing is out of control with the President proposing a nightmare of endless borrowing.

For a debt limit increase, there should be real reforms to end out-of-control spending. Former Senator Phil Gramm of Texas pointed out that Republicans agree that families and nations should always honor their debts; but in so doing, they should also make sure they don't pile up new debt. For Congress, it means passing budget reforms that impose hard and enforceable limits on new spending and debt.

Republicans and Democrats should work together truly to protect senior citizens, younger generations, and to create jobs. Specific reforms are needed to protect American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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