Paul Coverdell: “I compliment you on your remarks. I did not have a chance to do so to the Senator from Idaho and all the others that…”

“I compliment you on your remarks. I did not have a chance to do so to the Senator from Idaho and all the others that have risen in support of the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. If I could take just a minute to try to step back from this day-to-day routine and debate that we find ourselves in in the U.S. Senate in Washington, DC, not long ago--getting on to running on the second year--President Clinton's Bipartisan Commission on Entitlements issued its report. Mr. President, in that report it showed us--holding it right here in front of me--that in the year 2006, five Federal programs will consume 100 percent virtually of the U.S. Treasury. Though there is a little bit left--enough to run about one-third of the current Defense Department--that is it. That is within all of our watch. That is just within a decade. The five programs are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Federal retirement, and the interest only on our debt--the interest only. So we have in these Halls of Congress over the last 30 to 40 years put in place a potential catastrophe. We have talked about this for many, many years. Mr. President, the responsibility for addressing these problems can no longer be passed to someone in the future. We can no longer pass the baton.”