Political Quotes

“I look forward to my fourth opportunity to vote for the balanced budget constitutional amendment--recognizing with regret that the need for constitutional change is greater than ever. The $1.1 trillion Federal debt at the end of fiscal year 1982 will reach approximately $4.7 trillion by the end of fiscal year 1994--a fourfold increase since we first debated the balanced budget amendment on this floor. Our failure to act more expeditiously has greatly exacerbated the heavy burden our enormous national debt imposes on our children and grandchildren. When we shirk our responsibility to pay our own bills, we unfairly transfer the costs of our self-indulgence to our descendants. Decisions to amend the Constitution must not be made lightly. If a legislative remedy exists, that obviously is preferable to a change in our fundamental charter. Some have argued over the many years of this debate that we should utilize the legislative process to balance the budget before resorting to a constitutional amendment. We have tried that repeatedly. Legislation has not worked.”