Political Quotes

“the bottom line here is that we need a balanced budget amendment that does not have loopholes that will allow Congress to continue operating the same way it has in the past. That is the whole purpose of this battle. I must agree with those who are opposing this amendment and say that the Wise amendment does not accomplish that goal. Let me just talk quickly about two of the big loopholes. First, by a majority vote it allows the Congress to waive the amendment when there is what has been called a national economic emergency, when Congress decides whether there has been, by a majority vote, a two-consecutive quarter decline in real growth. But again who decides it? Congress does. The second big loophole is the capital expenditure item. Let me read again the item, because I agree with the gentleman from Texas who says that it is a loophole two-barn-doors wide. The amendment provides that ``the total outlays shall exclude those for repayment for debt, principal, and capital investments that provide long-term economic returns.'' I can see the debate now. If this amendment were to pass, we would be standing on this floor in the future and one group would be saying, ``This is pork-barrel spending,'' and the other group would be saying, ``No, this is long-term investment that will have a meaningful economic return for the country.'' Who gets to decide? Congress, by a majority vote.”