Lateefah Simon: “We do agree, however, that we have to do it, and we need the discipline of a constitutional amendment to force us to do…”

“We do agree, however, that we have to do it, and we need the discipline of a constitutional amendment to force us to do it. I would differ also with respect to my friend when he talks about the heavy tax burden. I am not suggesting that we are going to solve this primarily through taxes. I do not think that is the case. I would add, of the 24 major industrial nations we are 24th in the percentage of our income that goes for taxation. We do not have a value-added tax. Most of the countries in Western Europe have that. We have the lowest tax on a gallon of gasoline of any country outside of Saudi Arabia; the lowest taxes on a package of cigarettes, and you could go on and mention other things. But, having said that, there is no question we are going to primarily do this through restraining growth in spending. And the Senator is right, I say to Senator Byrd, when he says we are going to have to make hard choices. But it is very interesting--and we were just given at the Democratic caucus today a poll by the Wirthlin group on the balanced budget amendment--79 percent of the people favor a balanced budget amendment and 53 percent of them believe they are going to have to sacrifice in order to achieve it.”