Tina Smith: “we are in the second year of a Republican-controlled U.S. Congress. This is the second year that an actual, real…”

“we are in the second year of a Republican-controlled U.S. Congress. This is the second year that an actual, real, balanced budget resolution is before the Senate for consideration. I suggest, in all humbleness, that is not a coincidence. During the years of the first 2 years of the Clinton Presidency when the other party controlled both the House, Senate and White House, all three branches, all three areas of the Government, not one balanced budget came to the attention of the Congress. There should be no misunderstanding in the minds of the American people who watch and listen to this debate. Congress only began to consider balancing the budget after the elections of 1994. That is the truth. That alone is a significant accomplishment in a city addicted to reckless spending. It is not enough. Good intentions alone are not going to balance the Federal Government's books. This country is $5 trillion in debt. That is with a ``t,'' Mr. President. Right now we are in the midst of the NBA playoffs, so let me give an analogy. Here is an idea of what $5 trillion really is. Shaquille O'Neal, the basketball player who plays for Orlando Magic, earns $30 million each year. That is a lot of money playing basketball. He would have to play 166,000 seasons to earn $5 trillion. That is our current national debt. He makes $30 million a year. It is almost unbelievable for anyone to even be able to fathom how much $5 trillion really is.”