Elizabeth Furse: “I rise today in support of the Wise-Price-Pomeroy-Furse constitutional amendment to balance the budget. As a new Member…”

“I rise today in support of the Wise-Price-Pomeroy-Furse constitutional amendment to balance the budget. As a new Member of Congress, I came to Washington determined to help get the Nation's fiscal house in order. But after a little more than a year, I am not convinced that with the current state of politics, we have either the will or the courage necessary to accomplish this goal. Yet, Mr. Chairman, we must accomplish this goal. Nothing less than the economic security of our children and our country is at stake. I believe that one of the very prominent reasons that we in the freshman class came to this Congress was to do something about reducing the deficit. And we have made some progress. As a result of the deficit reduction agreement I supported this fall and the 1995 budget resolution I voted for last week, the deficit is at its lowest level in years. But I am increasingly frustrated by the unwillingness of many Members of Congress to cut unnecessary spending and make the choices needed to balance the budget. Some of those who refuse to cut this unnecessary spending are outspoken deficit hawks. They talk regularly about cutting deficits, but when they are given real opportunities, they often turn aside. Last week there was an amendment before this House to keep the Defense Department budget from growing by $2.5 billion. That was additional to the budget we agreed on. I was stunned when that amendment did not pass.”