Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to oppose the balanced budget amendment proposals before us today. I support a balanced budget. But I cannot support these proposals. All year, we have been discussing and debating how to have a more frugal government. But while we are trying to be frugal, how can we also meet our responsibilities to national defense and maintain our social contract? To achieve that we have to put politics and partisanship aside, and work together to find the sensible center. And the balanced budget amendment does not allow for that. I am for cuts. But our approach must be balanced like a three legged stool with responsible discretionary and military spending cuts; revenue; and reform that strengthens Medicare and Medicaid. The balanced budget amendment does not allow for that. Before we adopt a balanced budget amendment, we should know exactly what it is that we are doing. We need to know just how these programs are going to be affected. What cuts are going to be taken. How deep. What programs. And most importantly what the consequences will be to the health, safety, and security of the American people. How would a balanced budget amendment affect seniors? It attacks economic security for senior citizens through cuts to Social Security and Medicare. It breaks the social contract. Under the Republican plan, it cuts spending to 1965 levels before Medicare existed and when the average Social Security benefit was about $1,200 a year.…”