Actually, I wasn't making any claim about the budgets; although I can understand how you likely reached that conclusion.
I was simply trying to answer the "what years" part of your question; inserting information to a discussion you were conducting with somebody else.
-- In my book a balanced budget is wherein you take in more money than you spend. Is that how you see it? --
Yes. But I am generally familiar with the duplicitous language and definitions that come out of Congress and the Office of the President.
EGGSactly Batman. And newt is making it sound like he balanced the budget 96 through 99. First the budget didn't show a surplus until 98 and kept doing such until 2001 BUT Newt wasn't in Congress in 1999 thru 2001. (Though the Budget for 1999 would have been passed in his last year.)
Now if any of us wish to be honest the Budget got balanced IN SPITE OF CONGRESS IN THOSE YEARS. The kept on increasing their budgets but the economy was roaring along and for once the Tax Revenues outpaced Congress's spending spree.
Why Politicians always want to stretch the Truth is beyond me. Newt and his candidacy for POTUS would be better served if he stated the facts (He presided over 2 years of Budget Surpluses produced by American Businesses!)
And there is exactly why Newt is not a grade a Conservative! Conservatives CUT THE BUDGET! The Repubs had control of Both houses from 95 to 2000 and STILL INCREASED THE BUDGET AND EXPANDED GOVERNMENT. So until Newt actually makes government smaller and CUTS THE BUDGET he isn't a bonified grade a Conservative he just plays one on TV.
BUT as Candidates for President go, NEWT is the Most Conservative Candidate we have had Since Reagan. And this is why I say we must Hold Newt's feet to the fire and make him understand we are done with talk. WE WANT ACTION!