Steve Daines: “I offer amendment No. 389 to the budget resolution to establish a deficit-neutral reserve to hold Members of Congress…”

“I offer amendment No. 389 to the budget resolution to establish a deficit-neutral reserve to hold Members of Congress accountable for failing to pass a balanced budget. Washington has balanced its budget only five times in the last five decades. Let me say that again. Washington has only balanced its budget five times in the last 50 years. This is completely unacceptable, and it threatens the prosperity of future generations. By strengthening accountability and demanding results, my amendment will help restore fiscal responsibility--I would call it fiscal sanity--in Washington. I have introduced related legislation--the Balanced Budget Accountability Act--which would terminate the salaries of Members of the House and Senate if their respective Chamber does not pass a balanced budget. Simply put, no balanced budget, no pay. It is time to hold Congress accountable to the taxpayer. It is time to hit the Members of Congress in their pocketbooks if they can't pass a balanced budget. Chairman Enzi's budget meets this commonsense principle, and by passing my amendment to the budget resolution we will reinforce our commitment to passing similar balanced budgets in the future. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Daines). The Senator from West Virginia. ____________________”