Earl Hutto: “I rise in opposition to the Wise-Price- Pomeroy-Furse amendment. Every member of this body knows what a true balanced…”

“I rise in opposition to the Wise-Price- Pomeroy-Furse amendment. Every member of this body knows what a true balanced budget amendment would mean to the congressional budget and appropriations process. My friend and colleague, Charlie Stenholm, has championed an amendment to our Constitution for years to point us in the right direction of fiscal responsibility. The Stenholm amendment is genuine, yet it is flexible with supermajority provisions. This is a tough vote which carries many national benefits and local consequences. I urge my colleagues not to take what we believe is the low road on this important issue. The Wise-Price-Pomeroy-Furse amendment only provides the illusion of working toward a balanced Federal budget. This amendment belies the principle of requiring balanced budgets by providing for an undefined, flexible capital budget for red ink spending. Also, the amendment exempts itself and provides for deficit spending in a recession. We certainly know how this body handles flexibility and emergency spending. All we have to do is review the many projects included in the recent earthquake assistance legislation. It now seems that people all over the Nation were helped as well as those living in California. I urge my colleagues to oppose this easy way out amendment--and support the Stenholm balanced budget amendment. It is high time to take a stand for American's future.”