Lynn C. Woolsey: “I thank the ranking member for this time. Earlier this year, economist Bruce Bartlett, who served in the Reagan and Bush…”

“I thank the ranking member for this time. Earlier this year, economist Bruce Bartlett, who served in the Reagan and Bush administrations, had this to say about an earlier Republican balanced budget amendment. He said: ``It looks like it was drafted by a couple of interns on the back of a napkin.'' Granted, he was talking about a different version, but I still say that was pretty unfair to interns, who I think could do a lot better than this amendment that we're debating today. If the balanced budget were in place today, it would cripple the economy and decimate Social Security, Medicare and veterans programs, among many others. The austerity dogma of the Republican majority-- their balanced budget fetish--is hurting America, not helping it. We need more Federal dollars pumped into this economy. We need it to stimulate demand and to create jobs. We don't need less. If you get caught in a rainstorm--I mean, I wouldn't want to be caught in a rainstorm with anybody on the other side of the aisle because I'd be afraid that they'd propose a constitutional amendment banning umbrellas. Call me old fashioned, Mr. Speaker, but I think amending the Constitution is a pretty big deal. It should be reserved for correcting gross injustices and expanding fundamental rights. For decades, I've been among those pushing for a constitutional amendment that enshrines the notion that women should be treated equally.…”