I rise in opposition to all of the proposed constitutional amendments dealing with a balanced budget. It is important that we do not frame this debate in terms of whether or not a balanced budget is a worthy goal--of course it is. To reduce this debate to that level is ridiculous and does nothing but distort the issue. I believe we can all agree on the fact that balancing the budget as expeditiously as possible must be our top priority, and would represent the best economic growth package that the Congress could pass. Yet we are currently faced with a budget that is, quite frankly, out of sync. Irrespective of the reasons for the fiscal problems we now face--and there are many--the fundamental question today is how do we move ahead and create a brighter tomorrow for us and our grandchildren. How do we balance the budget? In this regard, I believe it is neither necessary nor wise to amend the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal budget.
Editor's note · Context
Opposing proposed constitutional amendments for a balanced budget during a House floor debate.
Share
More from William Hughes
I support the death penalty, as most of my colleagues know, where I believe it can be constitutionally imposed... a jury can consider, as one of the aggravating factors, the heinous nature of the offense, cruel nature of the offense, or…
I rise today with great sorrow to pay tribute to a former Member of the House, and a personal friend, the Honorable Thomas C. McGrath, who passed away last week. Tom McGrath represented New Jersey's Second Congressional District in the…
I rise in opposition to the latest version of McCollum, and I think the latest version of McCollum is worse than the first version of McCollum, and I will tell my colleagues why. Mr. Chairman, under the McCollum amendment States would not…
I support the packaging of these 6 en bloc amendments, but I must say that I do have some difficulties with No. 48, the Pryce amendment. As presently structured, I think it is overly broad, and I think it could be counterproductive. It is…





