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!
If you want a candidate who other Republicans will hold his feet to the fire, Newt is obviously the only choice. If he wins, the entire GOP-E will be desperate for him to do something wrong so they can justify all their opposition to him and discredit him. He’ll have to be on his best behavior. If Mitt gets in, the GOP-E will be covering him for everything he does, for fear of making themselves look stupid for endorsing him.