Cord Byrd: “It does not say ``may not.'' The amendment mandates that outlays ``shall not exceed receipts.'' If we were to…”

“It does not say ``may not.'' The amendment mandates that outlays ``shall not exceed receipts.'' If we were to constitutionalize the mandate, any attempt to deviate from that requirement would bring the moral authority of the entire Constitution into question. If the Congress can violate this amendment with impunity, then what other provisions of the Constitution might be in peril? Finally, the last sentence in this paragraph states, ``If an excess of outlays over receipts''--I think this gets to the question of the Senator from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum]--``were to occur, Congress can require that any shortfall must be made up during the following fiscal year.'' So there you have it. Now I will take the question of the Senator. But, you see, this is the final escape hatch that I will mention today: If an excess of outlays over receipts were to occur, Congress can require that any shortfall must be made up during the following fiscal year.”