41.   House Speaker Newt Gingrich told reporters Tuesday morning that he favored attaching a tax cut to a bill to raise the statutory ceiling on the federal debt.

42.   However, it also reduces the total federal debt subject to a legal limit and gives the Treasury breathing room to sell new debt in financial markets.

43.   In a clear sign of trouble, the administration has asked Congress for an increase in the federal debt ceiling.

44.   In fact, some lawmakers found more enthusiasm for using future surplus funds for paying off the still growing federal debt.

45.   In that same period, the federal debt has gone up enormously.

46.   Instead, Gramm backed more budget cuts to control federal debt and create jobs.

47.   Instead, he would buy back one dollar of federal debt from the public in the form of a bond.

48.   Instead, it would end up adding to the federal debt and increasing interest rates for the average American.

49.   Interest on the federal debt has to be paid.