Political Quotes

“Mr. President, another testimony that I thought was extremely compelling came from Alan Morrison. Alan Morrison is an accomplished attorney and has argued many cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public Interest & Public Service Law at George Washington University Law School. Professor Morrison really asked us to think through what we are doing. In fact, he asked us the most important question: If you put an amendment to the Constitution that requires a balanced budget, who will enforce it? Who will make it work? Who will decide if you have lived up to its terms? He concluded, based on his background in constitutional law and arguing before the Supreme Court, not the President. The President is not in that position to do it. The President, of course, with his budget, has his own favorites when it comes to spending and revenue. Professor Morrison said this case ultimately has to find its way to our court system. But he made it clear that any constitutional balanced budget amendment must expressly give to the Federal courts the standing to decide the question. He raised a question that without that expressed language, he really was doubtful that the courts would take it up. They might view it as just a political question to be resolved by Congress itself. Now, Senator Lee, who spoke on the floor earlier, has a version of the balanced budget amendment that expressly gives standing to Members of Congress, if I am not mistaken.…”