Tsongas Speaks at K-School

Americans are embracing the blend of fiscal prudence and social inclusiveness he advocated in his presidential campaign, former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas said in a speech to about 200 at the Kennedy School on Wednesday.

Tsongas, defeated in his bid for the 1992 Democratic nomination by then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, also predicted a "generational war" if the federal government fails to balance the budget.

Tsongas described himself as a traditional Democratic socially with a "Republican view of economics."

"And the fact is that I think this is where America is," Tsongas said. "The average American is inclusive but also believes in fiscal responsibility. My campaign was an attempt to live in both worlds."

Tsongas spoke at length about his plan for reducing the budget deficit. He developed it in conjunction with former sen. Warren Rudman (R-N.H.) as part of their Concord Coalition.

Tsongas said his plan would reduce the budget deficit from $251 billion to zero by the end of the century.

His plan would enact a series of taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline.

The plan would also eliminate various federal programs, including the space station and the supercolliding superconductor.

But the major component of the policy, Tsongas said, involves reductions in entitlement programs ranging from social security and Medicare to farm subsidies.

He said he advocates "means testing" entitlements, which would reduce or eliminate entitlement program payments to wealthier citizens.

Tsongas emphasized the importance of tackling the deficit immediately.

He said that the second largest expenditure in the federal budget, aside form entitlements, is interest on the national debt. And that debt, he said, has more than quadrupled since 1980.

Tsongas also said that the ratio of workers per entitlement recipient will fall from nine to one in 1970 to five to two in 2010.

"Eventually, the taxes on your generation become so horrific that you'll revolt," he said.

"What is going to happen in the United States by the end of the decade is a generational war," Tsongas said, writing the last two words on a chalkboard and underlining them foremphasis.

Tsongas said that his budget reduction plan canalso achieve universal health coverage.

He said that President Clinton's plan borrowsheavily from his own.

But Clinton has made the program too costly byweakening malpractice reform, implementingmandatory cooperative alliances to purchase healthcare and adding new entitlements and regulations,Tsongas said.

He was somewhat kinder in evaluating Clinton'sperformance on reducing the deficit.

Tsongas said Clinton did a "good job" in hisfirst year in office.

But after that initial success, "the attitudeof the administration is, 'We've done it and wehave no plans to go forward,'" Tsongas said. "Theyhave lost the will to [advance on] the budget, sowe given them a very mixed report card at thispoint."

Tsongas also reflected on the 1992 presidentialcampaign and looked towards 1996.

He said that Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot"should have won" in 1992, but only lost becauseof doubts about his character.

"Ross Perot never campaigned for president,"Tsongas said. "The way he did it, he went on LarryKing, said he might run and...[almost immediately]was leading in the polls."

"That only happens when there's a vacuum," headded.

But Tsongas said Perot was essentiallyeliminated from contention by doubts about hisemotional fitness, as well as that of running mateJames Stockdale.

"If Ross Perot had given us more assuranceabout his temperament and had a reasonablyarticulate vice president, he would be president,no doubt about it," Tsongas said.

As for the 1996 race, Tsongas said he thinksthe Republicans are "going to kill themselves."

He said that by catering to the religiousright, the Republicans are ignoring much of theminority population.

Tsongas also said that no Republican candidatecan balance the budget, since the party opposesboth taxes and entitlement reductions

Tsongas said that his budget reduction plan canalso achieve universal health coverage.

He said that President Clinton's plan borrowsheavily from his own.

But Clinton has made the program too costly byweakening malpractice reform, implementingmandatory cooperative alliances to purchase healthcare and adding new entitlements and regulations,Tsongas said.

He was somewhat kinder in evaluating Clinton'sperformance on reducing the deficit.

Tsongas said Clinton did a "good job" in hisfirst year in office.

But after that initial success, "the attitudeof the administration is, 'We've done it and wehave no plans to go forward,'" Tsongas said. "Theyhave lost the will to [advance on] the budget, sowe given them a very mixed report card at thispoint."

Tsongas also reflected on the 1992 presidentialcampaign and looked towards 1996.

He said that Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot"should have won" in 1992, but only lost becauseof doubts about his character.

"Ross Perot never campaigned for president,"Tsongas said. "The way he did it, he went on LarryKing, said he might run and...[almost immediately]was leading in the polls."

"That only happens when there's a vacuum," headded.

But Tsongas said Perot was essentiallyeliminated from contention by doubts about hisemotional fitness, as well as that of running mateJames Stockdale.

"If Ross Perot had given us more assuranceabout his temperament and had a reasonablyarticulate vice president, he would be president,no doubt about it," Tsongas said.

As for the 1996 race, Tsongas said he thinksthe Republicans are "going to kill themselves."

He said that by catering to the religiousright, the Republicans are ignoring much of theminority population.

Tsongas also said that no Republican candidatecan balance the budget, since the party opposesboth taxes and entitlement reductions