(Archived document, may contain errors) 268 May 18, 1983 TAMING THE NATIONAL DEBT INTRODUCTION Congress hates raising the federal debt ceiling. Yet, in the next couple of years, it faces the prospect of voting for debt hikes averaging some $225 billion annually. Congress may have to agree, in fact, to more new debt in the next six years than the total authorized debt in the entire history of the United States bills will provoke extremely hard fought, controversial, close votes.