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Sen. Jake Garn urges honesty on federal deficit, cautions against unilateral military cuts
Summary
U.S. Sen. Jake Garn told the Utah House the federal deficit is being understated by shifting or not spending trust‑fund money and urged Congress to pursue verifiable arms‑control treaties before large unilateral force reductions.
U.S. Sen. Jake Garn addressed the Utah House on the opening day of its 1990 session, urging clearer federal accounting and caution on defense reductions. Speaking after the chamber resolved itself into the whole to hear him, Garn said federal budgeting uses ‘‘smoke and mirrors’’ and warned that trust funds are being used to make the deficit appear smaller. "First of all, we are using the Social Security surplus to reduce the size of the general fund budget," he said.
Garn cited several examples of what he called misleading federal accounting: underused highway and airport development trust funds, and money returned from the Federal Reserve System to the Treasury. "They return to the general fund of the treasury in excess of $17,000,000,000 last year," he said, arguing those practices obscure the true size of the deficit and make honest budget discipline harder.
Turning to foreign policy, Garn described recent changes in Eastern Europe as a historic opportunity but warned Congress against precipitous, unilateral cuts in military forces before legally binding, verifiable treaties are concluded. He said he supports negotiated reductions "within the framework of a treaty that is verifiable," citing the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) talks and urging continued emphasis on verification and compliance procedures.
Garn framed his remarks by reflecting on recent world events and his 22 years in public service, telling the representatives he is optimistic about the future but urging prudence. "Be pleased about what's happening, but don't kiss mister Gorbachev on both cheeks quite yet. Wait for some of the actions to go with the...words," Garn said.
After his remarks the House dissolved committee as a whole and returned to business. Garn's address was framed as an advisory speech to state legislators about how federal choices on budgets and treaties could affect state policy and funding.
