Credit the Republicans for the budget surplus

Martha Tuohy's 3/22/16 letter to the Fencepost claims this about Bill Clinton: "His legacy is having been the only president to balance the budget and leave a surplus." I thought everybody knew how President Clinton spent his time in the oval office. His legacy is that when he lied about his activities, there was an impeachment proceeding due to his perjury.

The truth of the matter is that during the Clinton Administration the gross federal debt increased from $4.1 trillion in 1993 to $5.7 trillion in 2001. It is true that the federal budget was balanced in fiscal years 1998-2001. A Republican-controlled Congress approved the appropriations and President Clinton signed them. In 1994 and 1995, when President Clinton governed with a Democrat-controlled Congress, the federal government ran deficits of $203.2 billion and $163.9 billion.

In fact, according to the historical data published by the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama White House, no Congress in which the Democrats controlled both the House and Senate has balanced the federal budget since fiscal 1969 -- more than 46 years ago.

It is amazing how some people are unaware of the structuring of our federal government, including the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

According to the U.S.

Constitution, spending bills originate in the House of Representatives; not in the White House. Therefore, Congress has been described as being able "to control the purse strings".

I am sure that everyone is concerned about the prospects that when President Obama leaves office, the projected federal debt will be $20 trillion. If Ms. Tuohy longs for the "good old days" of fiscal sensibility, she should be guided by historical precedent and work toward increasing the Republican majority in Congress.

Gary Sheffert

Arlington Heights