John Mica: “this week the U.S. Senate will consider a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I have only served in Congress…”

“this week the U.S. Senate will consider a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I have only served in Congress for 14 months, and I am convinced more than ever that this Congress must enact a balanced budget amendment. Why, quite frankly my colleagues and fellow Americans, Congress runs the Federal Government like an 18th century plantation with bad accounting practices. The spending of your tax dollars here is often without rhyme or reason. Legislative constraints on spending are worthless. Two weeks ago we proved that again with over $11 billion in new spending. Gramm, Rudman, and Hollings legislation did not work. Bush and Clinton tax increases will not work. Only a balanced budget amendment will put the brakes on spending. Now do not believe the hollow arguments against a balanced budget amendment. States do it, cities do it, and most taxpayers do it. I urge my colleagues and all Americans this week to contact members of the other body as they decide the fate of the most important question facing our Nation. To balance the budget or not balance the budget--that is the question.”