Sen. Paul Simon: “If I may respond, first, this changes the dimensions of what you do in the Budget Committee. We are not dealing simply…”

“If I may respond, first, this changes the dimensions of what you do in the Budget Committee. We are not dealing simply with a statute. The Senator and I took an oath when we stood up there to protect the Constitution. This is now part of the Constitution. And when we put that budget together, we know we are not dealing with a statutory thing. We are dealing with requirements that are tough. There is no question it is tough. The Senator from West Virginia said it is tough. But that, I think, will force reality onto us. It does not mean we are always going to guess right. The Senator from West Virginia is absolutely correct. It is difficult. But I think there will be a different tone of reality in the Budget Committee with this kind of provision in the Constitution.”