Senate Republicans attacking Slattery for reducing national deficit in 1993

NRSC Joins Roberts in Attacking Slattery

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a web ad yesterday attacking Jim Slattery, candidate for the US Senate, for voting for a provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 1993 that included an increase in the gas tax.

The increase raised the gas tax 4.3 cents at a time when gas cost $1.02 a gallon. The five-year budget plan cut the deficit by $496 billion and set the stage for a period of economic prosperity in the 1990's.

"There are times as a member of Congress, that I had to make difficult votes," Slattery said. "This vote represented my genuine commitment to reducing the deficit."

Other efforts by Slattery in 1993 to cut the deficit and eliminate federal pork and waste included:

Cut $1.2 billion in unauthorized Pentagon spending.
Cut $1.6 million in legislative branch funds.
Cut $5.8 million in congressional mail costs.
Eliminate the advanced liquid metal nuclear reactor program.
Eliminate the SP-100 space reactor development program.
Eliminate the Advanced Solid Rocket motor program.
Limit office allowances for former presidents.
Limit staffing and office expenses for former house speakers.

Slattery, named the one of the most frugal members of congress by the National Taxpayers Union, remains committed to reducing the deficit.

"In 2001, the federal government had a budget surplus of $250 billion," Slattery said. "In the last seven years, Roberts has voted for the irresponsible fiscal policy of the Bush Administration that has added $3 trillion to our national debt.

"This spend and borrow policy is intergenerational robbery. Politicians like Pat Roberts expect our children and grandchildren to pay their bills," Slattery said. "It is immoral and it must be stopped."