31.   Congress was forced to approve six temporary increases in the federal debt ceiling during the negotiations.

32.   Failure to agree would allow the government to pay down the huge federal debt by a small amount, thus reducing the burden on future generations.

33.   Fiscal prudence requires only that Congress keep the federal debt growing less quickly than the economy.

34.   From one election to the next, he cursed lethargic lawmakers and a growing federal debt even as he dutifully cast his vote.

35.   Gore said he would balance the budget every year and pay down the federal debt.

36.   Greenspan also said he preferred using the budget surpluses to pay down the federal debt, which would boost national savings.

37.   Government spending went up, not down, creating record federal debt.

38.   He also argued that his plan would promote economic growth by lowering the federal debt and reducing interest rates.

39.   He favored putting the federal government on a pay-as-you-go basis and slashing the federal debt, and he promoted major legislation in postal reform and land-use planning.

40.   He pledged to use the surplus money instead to pay down the federal debt.