Political Quotes

“If my friend would again be willing to yield, obviously if we had adopted a constitutional amendment 6 years ago, or 60 years ago, which led to a balanced budget we would probably be in better shape than we are now depending on whether or not there was an opportunity during a recession to be flexible. But the issue I am raising is the opposite of a nit-pick. The issue that I am raising goes to the heart of this amendment. This amendment does not assure us that we will achieve a balanced budget. That is not a nit-pick. That is a statement that goes straight to the heart of this amendment. I want to get to the language that my friend from Illinois pointed to. The only language which the sponsor has pointed to that appears to be self-enforcing is in section 2, having to do with the debt of the United States. But section 2 says that 'the limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased.' Does the Senator from Illinois know whether or not we have adopted a statute which sets a limit on the publicly held debt of the United States?”