Don Nickles: “I rise to make a couple comments concerning the balanced budget amendment vote today, because I think in my 14…”

“I rise to make a couple comments concerning the balanced budget amendment vote today, because I think in my 14 rac{1}{2}\ years in the Senate, it is probably the most important vote that we have cast. In my Senate career, we voted on a balanced budget amendment four times--three times for real; and once on a cloture vote to end debate on a balanced budget amendment which I offered. We passed it once, in 1982. We passed it with 69 votes. It was a bipartisan vote. At that time, the majority leader of the Senate was Howard Baker. I remember his support for the amendment. We had the support of Ronald Reagan, who was President at the time. But we lost by just a few votes in the House of Representatives. The reason we lost the vote today is because six people who voted for the balanced budget amendment a year ago voted against it today. They have the right to change their minds. Many of the people that voted against it today who voted for it last year said they wanted to protect Social Security. But when they voted for it last year, there was no specific protection for Social Security. Those individuals thought the balanced budget amendment was worthy of voting for last year, but they voted against it this year. They have that right, and I respect Senators for their votes. I also think they should be held accountable.”