Political Quotes

“I oppose this amendment to our Constitution that purports to balance our nation's budget, but instead serves merely as an excuse for Congress to avoid the real responsibilities of governing. When the balanced budget amendment freight train was moving through Congress in 1995 and a number of people piled on, it passed in the House overwhelmingly, but it failed in the Senate by one vote. The only Republican who voted no was Senator Mark Hatfield. As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he was visited repeatedly by some of the most ardent proponents of a ``balanced budget,'' asking him for special treatment so that they might spend more money in their home states. Senator Hatfield recognized that, in his words, a vote for a balanced budget amendment is, ``not a vote for a balanced budget, it is a vote for a fig leaf.'' Amending the Constitution to require a balanced budget is an irresponsible approach to fiscal discipline. It does not balance the budget; instead, it would restrict the government's ability to provide for the common welfare, to respond to economic crises and natural disasters, and to invest in America. Under a balanced budget amendment, recessions would be longer and deeper because Congress would be forced to raise taxes, cut spending, or both in order to meet the constitutional mandate. This flies in the face of sound economic policy.…”