Chat with Chic, January 3, 1986

Chat with Chic January 3, 198 6 A Report from Washington By U.S. Senator Chic Hecht During closing days of 1985, dramatic action was taken in Washington when Congress enacted legislation assuring people of this nation a balanced federal budget by 1991. The plan requires deep cuts in federal spending for the next five years until the deficit reaches zero! Balancing the budget and putting a lid on excessive government spending always has been among my top priorities. Now we've established guidelines ? a tough new plan for bringing deficit spending and the budget under control while leaving several critical anti-poverty programs intact. Simply put, this new legislation means that if the free spenders in Congress (and there are a lot of them) refuse to pass a responsible budget, automatic across-the-board spending cuts, with the exception of Social Security, will bring the budget in line. The plan, the "Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act" (also known as Gramm Rudman, named for two of my colleagues in the Senate), is now law, requiring spending cuts of $36 billion each year. In my opinion, it is the single most important step we have taken to secure a stronger economy and long-term prosperity for our nation. page 2, Chat with Chic This balanced budget act does not come at the expense of those Americans most in need. Several critical health and nutrition programs like food stamps, aid to families with dependent children and feeding programs for women, children and infants have been safe-guarded from any-across- the-board cuts. It certainly has been no secret that high interest rates, the over-valued dollar, our trade imbalance and the farm crisis all have been linked to deficit spending and that the time had long since passed when something had to be done about it. So suddenly, during closing days of 1985 and after a long congressional battle, it was done. As you well know, cutting spending programs never is easy, but the time eventually arrives when such action must be taken. Some may suffer as a result but the nation in the long run will be far better off. It is my hope that I can look forward to continued support and understanding from Nevadans during the belt-tightening process ahead as I work with other senators in meeting requirements of this new plan.