Porter Goss: “Last week by nearly a 5-to-1 margin the House voted against the only specific plan for a balanced budget within the next…”

“Last week by nearly a 5-to-1 margin the House voted against the only specific plan for a balanced budget within the next 5 years--without touching Social Security and without raising taxes. Only 73 of us were willing to bite the bullet and vote for a list of more than 500 specific cuts totaling $600 billion in savings. Still opponents of a balanced budget amendment argue passionately that a balanced budget measure is unnecessary because all we need to do is find the courage to make tough choices. If the 342-73 vote on the Solomon balanced budget amendment last week proved anything, it proved that such courage does not exist in this House. Clearly it is time for a balanced budget constitutional amendment; we will not eliminate our staggering and ever-growing national debt without it. I do not like having to amend the Constitution--but I like bankrupting the Nation even less. If you are in doubt, ask your children and grandchildren how they feel about it.”