J. Exon: “I rise today to lend enthusiastic support to S. 9, which I think is probably one of the most important, if not…”

“I rise today to lend enthusiastic support to S. 9, which I think is probably one of the most important, if not far-reaching, measures that have been introduced today, along with very many other important measures. S. 9 addresses the matter of the constitutional amendment to balance the budget. I have long been a supporter of that, and my name has been mentioned by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I was very pleased to join as a cosponsor of the bill of the Democratic leader to focus attention on this matter. I also happen to be the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, and the Budget Committee, with all of its other very important responsibilities, is going to play a very key, a very decisive role in the constitutional amendment to balance the budget. I rise today though to say while I voted for it before and I am going to vote for it again, I am going to be plowing a straight furrow down the road on this whole matter to explain to the Senate and to the House and to the people at large that passing a constitutional amendment to balance the budget is the easy part. There has been no legislation introduced today, and I daresay there will be no legislation introduced in this Congress, that has such far-reaching implications. This is where the rubber meets the road. Passing a constitutional amendment--which I believe will be passed--is the easy part.”