Political Quotes

“I have just returned from California, where there was obviously great interest in the vote on the balanced budget amendment. I have to say that the response to my vote, in general, was one that greatly encourages me. I have to say, however, that what is of greater interest to my constituency, the people of California, the largest State in the Nation--31 million people--is that we get down to working on the actual budget. It is one thing to debate a balanced budget amendment that would not take effect until 2002 or later. Depending on if and when the States ratify it, it could be the year 3000, for all we know. It is another thing to actually sit down at the table and work together, Republicans and Democrats alike, and bring back a budget that we can all be proud of. Since I am on the Senate Budget Committee, I truly look forward to that exercise. I hope we can come back here with a bipartisan product that cuts into that deficit and gets us on that glidepath toward a balanced budget that we have been talking about. Mr. President, there is no question that the vote last week on the balanced budget amendment was clearly one of the most important votes in this Congress.”