Paul Coverdell: “I rise in support of his, and others, balanced budget amendment and in opposition to the amendment of the Senator from…”

“I rise in support of his, and others, balanced budget amendment and in opposition to the amendment of the Senator from Nevada. I would like to just make several comments with regard to what I view has turned into three spears at the amendment, three arguments that are being consistently made against the balanced budget amendment. First, we have heard for weeks that the balanced budget amendment, as offered by the Senator from Illinois and others, is a gimmick. Let me just say that I think that argument has been rendered moot by the intensity of the lobbying to defeat the amendment. Clearly, if all the sectors who have so vigorously opposed this amendment thought it was but a gimmick, we would simply let politics be politics and go home. But, indeed, that has not been the case. Throughout the Nation, we have had such an intense effort to characterize and belittle the amendment, first classifying it as a gimmick. It is not a gimmick. It is the first serious attempt on the part of this Senate and the people of this country to bring into control runaway debt that will bring this Nation to its knees.”