Nancy Kassebaum: “as I stand here today with my colleagues discussing a new plan to balance the budget, I can guess what many Americans…”

“as I stand here today with my colleagues discussing a new plan to balance the budget, I can guess what many Americans are probably thinking: ``Here they go again.'' The budget has been the catalyst driving our agenda for more than a year, from our vote on the balanced budget amendment to the debates over the budget resolution, budget reconciliation package, and annual spending bills. Haven't every one of us, Republican and Democrat, stood up on this floor and professed--repeatedly--our support for a balanced budget? Why then don't we have a balanced budget? I can guess something else Americans are thinking, because I hear it from many Kansans: We should run Government as we'd run a business, and balance our books. I agree, Mr. President, but it is more complex than that, for better or worse, and it is part of the reason we still do not have a budget agreement. When we discuss the Federal budget, we are discussing more than a ledger sheet. We are discussing national priorities with real consequences, and we do not all agree on the priorities or their consequences. Finding middle ground becomes a challenge of its own. Yet we cannot allow the enormity of our task--or the controversy surrounding it-- to scare us away from trying to restore sound fiscal policy. Because we are discussing an endeavor of broad national significance, I do not think we can overemphasize the importance of fairness.…”