Political Quotes

“I rise today in support of the balanced budget amendment alternatives offered by Representatives Stenholm, Barton, and Kyl. It is an amazing statistic that interest payments on our national debt were five times higher in 1993 than outlays for all education, job training and employment programs combined. Clearly, until our monstrous $4.3 trillion Federal deficit is eliminated, interest payments will continue to eat away at the important initiatives which the government must fund. I will not stand by and watch Congress recklessly squander the future of our children and grandchildren. As of the end of last session, the bills that I have cosponsored this Congress would cut spending by $50.3 billion, if enacted. According to the National Taxpayer's Union, only eight other Representatives have cosponsored more savings than I have. But we still have not done enough. Mr. Chairman, when I served in the Illinois legislature, the fact that we had a Balanced Budget Amendment to our State constitution enabled us to practice strong fiscal discipline. We must have the same safeguard at the Federal level. The American people have wanted a Balanced Budget Amendment for a long time, because they know it's the only way to force Congress to make tough spending choices.”