Byron Dorgan: “As I pointed out, if the Constitution is amended at 2:25 today, at 2:26 the deficit will not have decreased by one…”

“As I pointed out, if the Constitution is amended at 2:25 today, at 2:26 the deficit will not have decreased by one penny. Why? Because altering the Constitution will not decrease the deficit. Only individual choices by men and women of goodwill in this Chamber who are willing to take some risks and take a little heat for it will cut the deficit and finally balance the budget. I am willing to do that. I demonstrated that in 1993, as did the Senator from Vermont. We had the fiscal discipline. If we can get some others to join us, we can balance this Federal budget. I just do not want us to play games, saying we balanced the budget, only then trying to explain to our children why the Federal debt continues to increase at the same time. That is not balancing the budget.”