Lateefah Simon: “I agree with two-thirds of what my colleague from West Virginia has to say, and he knows I differ on the balanced budget…”

“I agree with two-thirds of what my colleague from West Virginia has to say, and he knows I differ on the balanced budget amendment. I do believe, however, in the immediate choices that we face, one is a tax cut. I think it makes absolutely no sense. When I was in the House I voted against the Reagan tax cut and I voted against the Democratic tax cut. We were in a bidding war, we are in a bidding war again. I am going to vote against the Republican vote, and I am going to vote against the Democratic tax cut. I do not think they make any sense at all. In terms of tax increases, I think the political reality is we can only pass them if they are for designated purposes. The American public--if we need it for balancing the budget, it is very interesting--53 percent of the American public says they are for balancing the budget, even if it means they have to sacrifice. I think they are willing to face that. In 1990, if I may be immodest, I faced reelection. One of the things my opponent, a very distinguished woman who served in the House, Lynn Martin, used against me, is that I said I think we need increases in Federal taxes to balance the budget. I can remember reading in Roll Call that I was destined to defeat. I ended up getting the biggest plurality of any contested Senator of either political party running for reelection that year. I think people want to be told the truth.”