On the recordNovember 17, 2011
Ladies and gentlemen, this balanced budget constitutional amendment is one that surprises me, and very little surprises me anymore. But for us to be seriously, on this day and this time, considering an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would destroy jobs, that would drastically cut Medicare and Social Security and give members of the Federal judiciary the right to raise taxes and make spending decisions for us is relatively shocking to me, and I am very much opposed to it. I want to engage my dear friend, the chairman of the committee, in an exchange of views on this, but let's start off the discussion with this reality. This is not 1995, and that's why so many people that supported the amendment then have changed their minds now, and they will explain this as they go along. I would like now, Mr. Speaker, to yield to the gentleman from New York, former chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, Jerry Nadler, for as much time as he may consume.
