David Thomas: “Again we are asked to vote on a balanced budget amendment. This is the most important and vital action that any of us…”

“Again we are asked to vote on a balanced budget amendment. This is the most important and vital action that any of us will take this year if we are to be financially and fiscally responsible. This is more than just a balanced budget. This is more than just arithmetic. It is more than numbers. It has to do with character. It has to do with our willingness to face up to the realization that you cannot keep spending more than you take in. It has to do with debt. We now have a debt of $5.5 trillion, which we have put on our credit card for young people to pay. Our card is maxed out. It has to do with interest payments. Probably, next year, the largest item on the budget will be interest on the national debt--$270 billion a year in interest. It has to do with priorities in the Government. We have not had to choose what we think is most important for Government. We have simply said, ``Let's do it and put it on the tab.'' That is not responsible for any of us. It has to do with smaller Government. There is a relationship between how much money you spend and how much Government you have. I can tell you, the folks in my State would like to have less central Government, less activity. It has to do with savings for families, if we can reduce the interest payments on their cars and on their kid's college. It is the right thing to do.”