Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the balanced budget constitutional amendment. The question whether one generation has the right to bind another by the deficit it imposes is a question of such consequence as to place it among the fundamental principles of Government. We should consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, morally bound to pay them ourselves. Thomas Jefferson's words ring just as true today as they did 200 years ago. As the guardians of the people's treasury, we are already constitutionally bound to govern responsibly. We, as a body, have failed to do that. Mr. Chairman, when I first came to Congress 16 years ago our Government carried a deficit of only $60 billion. Today, our deficit postures at $223 billion, scheduled to balloon again after 1997 if Congress continues down the same path. Time after time, legislative solutions have been brought to this floor, debated and even passed, yet deficits continue to exist and the debt continues to compound. A constitutional amendment would institute fundamental reform in the Government's fiscal practices. By constitutionally forcing Congress to make the tough decisions, we will have to devise a real solution. Yes, a constitutional amendment does not in and of itself deal with the problem. But, it sets us on the right path. Balancing the budget will ultimately require specific provisions, not merely constitutional mandates.”