Angie Craig: “I believe that, without the constitutional discipline, we will always risk the return to more spending and more…”

“I believe that, without the constitutional discipline, we will always risk the return to more spending and more borrowing. Ultimately, to safeguard the future, the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution must come into place. Some may suggest that passage of this year's balanced budget agreement means we no longer need the constitutional amendment. I suggest that is not true. One balanced budget in 30 years hardly means that we have fixed the system or that we have systemically changed the attitude of some who serve here. It will never be easier than it is right now to balance the budget. In the past, the temptation always was to put off the hard choices; Members have thought, it will be easier in the future than it is now. But in fact, it will never again be as easy as it is right now to begin that long march to arrest the growth of a $5 trillion national debt.”