Byron Dorgan: “I have an unwavering commitment to balancing this Nation's budget, and that commitment is a longstanding one--dating…”

“I have an unwavering commitment to balancing this Nation's budget, and that commitment is a longstanding one--dating back to the first vote I cast in favor of a constitutional amendment a dozen years ago, in 1982. Since that time I have voted for balanced budget amendments again and again. I voted "yes" in 1990 and in 1992, after the huge deficits created during the 1980's and early 1990's caused the Federal debt to explode to $4 trillion. Last year I voted for it yet again. But I cast that vote with the firm assurance from the leading proponents of the amendment that Social Security trust funds would not be used to balance the budget.”