Trent Lott: “Yet those Senators today voted against the balanced budget amendment. Now, Mr. President, what has happened during this…”

“Yet those Senators today voted against the balanced budget amendment. Now, Mr. President, what has happened during this debate? What will happen when we get to the serious budget votes? Will some Senators say, ``Oh, yes, we want a balanced budget, but we have a right to know what will happen for years into the future,'' which is what they said a week ago. Will they say again, ``We must have some further guarantees on Social Security,'' or else they won't even vote for deficit reduction now. I will venture a prediction. I predict that they will say, ``Exempt this group from any cuts, and exempt that group.'' And when we get to the budget resolution, they will say, ``Oh, yes, by all means cut spending, but not here. Not there. Somewhere else.'' Where will their votes be when we get to the real deficit reduction effort? Will they be saying, ``Exempt my State, or exempt my region, or exempt this special interest''? Or will they be willing to cast the tough votes so that we can stop the $200 billion-a-year deficits that President Clinton has proposed, not just for this year, but for as far as the eye can see? Today advocates of the balanced budget amendment lost. But within 2 months, the Senate will have to face tough choices about spending, tough choices about specific programs. The Nation will be watching to see the votes that will then be cast by those who today profess devotion to a balanced budget, while voting against the amendment that would have achieved it.”