Cass Ballenger: “I rise in strong support of a balanced budget amendment. I have supported a balanced budget amendment to the…”

“I rise in strong support of a balanced budget amendment. I have supported a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution since my election to Congress. My commitment to passing such an amendment has not wavered, for an amendment of this nature is essential to the future prosperity of this great country. Opponents of a balanced budget amendment question the need to amend the Constitution. I believe we should amend the Constitution to ensure a debt-free America, an America whose people are not taxed into depression to pay for irresponsible Government spending. We have amended our Constitution twenty-seven times to address the various needs of the American people. I would say that a $4.5 trillion Federal debt is a pretty big problem that needs addressing. I am not alone in this belief. People throughout this country have asked Congress to cut and control unnecessary spending and feel that if an amendment to the Constitution is the only means to that end, then so be it. As we all know, our Founding Fathers so wisely included in the Constitution a Bill of Rights. I, for one, believe that Americans of today and tomorrow have a fundamental right to a prosperous and certain future. I supported the Barton-Tauzin balanced budget amendment.”