Martin Sabo: “I oppose putting this type of requirement in the Constitution and I would like to tell you why. The Constitution did not…”

“I oppose putting this type of requirement in the Constitution and I would like to tell you why. The Constitution did not create our budget problems and changing it will not solve them. Rather--solving our budget problems will require an exercise of political will which is not dependent on the Constitution and cannot be engendered by the Constitution. The Constitution is our most valuable governing document and it should not be altered without extreme care. I believe there are three very fundamental problems with putting a balanced budget requirement in the U.S. Constitution. My first objection concerns the manner in which this addition would change the nature of our Constitution. The second involves the change in the balance of powers between the three branches of government which I believe would result from this type of constitutional requirement. And, my third objection relates to the change in the balance of power within the legislative branch under some of the proposals.”