Quote Originally Posted by JaneV2.0 View Post
Bill Clinton shone at budget issues:

"President Clinton oversaw a very robust economy during his tenure. The U.S. had strong economic growth (around 4% annually) and record job creation (22.7 million). He raised taxes on higher income taxpayers early in his first term and cut defense spending and welfare, which contributed to a rise in revenue and decline in spending relative to the size of the economy. These factors helped bring the United States federal budget into surplus from the fiscal year 1998 to 2001, the only surplus years after 1969. Debt held by the public, a primary measure of the national debt, fell relative to GDP throughout his two terms, from 47.8% in 1993 to 31.4% in 2001.[1]" Wikipedia
That was during the days when Congress prepared, debated and passed an annual budget for the President to sign. I've never understood why Newt Gingrich and crew didn't get more credit for forcing President Clinton to look fiscally responsible during those years.