Tennessee 2006 Senate Debate: on Budget & Economy


Bob Corker: Claims Ford tried to add $280 billion to national debt

Q: How would you combat the national debt?

FORD: Everybody in our country--even children and newborns--owes the US government $28,000. In the last 6 years under my opponent's party's leadership, the debt has grown by almost $2 trillion. And the people who will pay it will be you and I and everyone else. I have a couple of simple answers. They're going to call me a liberal, but if they wanted to control the debt, they could have by now.

  1. We ought to pass a balanced budget amendment.
  2. We ought to move to a two-year budget cycles.
  3. We ought to end all of this pork-barrel spending.
  4. We ought to say to 16 federal agencies, out of 23, that if they can't audit themselves, then no more federal tax money.

CORKER: The only person who's been in Washington over the last 10 years is Congressman Ford. He's tried to add $280 billion to your tab. His actions in Washington have been far different than what he says.
Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at Univ. of Chattanooga, x-ref Ford Oct 10, 2006

Harold Ford: Fight $2 trillion debt by balancing budget & ending pork

Q: How would you combat the national debt?

FORD: Everybody in our country--even children and newborns--owes the US government $28,000. In the last 6 years under my opponent's party's leadership, the debt has grown by almost $2 trillion. And the people who will pay it will be you and I and everyone else. I have a couple of simple answers. They're going to call me a liberal, but if they wanted to control the debt, they could have by now.

  1. We ought to pass a balanced budget amendment.
  2. We ought to move to a two-year budget cycles.
  3. We ought to end all of this pork-barrel spending.
  4. We ought to say to 16 federal agencies, out of 23, that if they can't audit themselves, then no more federal tax money.

CORKER: The only person who's been in Washington over the last 10 years is Congressman Ford. He's tried to add $280 billion to your tab. His actions in Washington have been far different than what he says.
Source: 2006 TN Senate debate, at University of Chattanooga Oct 10, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-9th) & Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker debate at the University of Chattanooga, hosted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, WTVC-TV News Channel 9, & the Chattanooga Bar Assocation, Oct. 10, 2006. .
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for more quotes by Harold Ford on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bob Corker on Budget & Economy.
2008 Presidential contenders on Budget & Economy:
Republicans:
Chmn.John Cox
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Gov.Mike Huckabee
Rep.Duncan Hunter
Sen.John McCain
Rep.Ron Paul
Gov.Mitt Romney
Sen.Fred Thompson
Democrats:
Sen.Hillary Clinton
Sen.John Edwards
Sen.Mike Gravel
Rep.Dennis Kucinich
Sen.Barack Obama
Third Parties:
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Mayor Mike Bloomberg
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