John Tanner said "I am not interested in being a party to a balanced budget agreement that does not translate itself from an idea to a reality. There have been well-intentioned people in this town since 1980 who have tried mightily to balance the budget. This enforcement mechanism that was denied a vote on by this body, by the Committee on Rules, itself I think warrants a ``no'' vote, because, Mr. Speaker, this is the mechanism that translates the idea of a balanced budget, which most of us embrace, to actual reality. Without it, we are, I think, going down the same path as those that were here before us. We cannot afford that path again. We are spending over $250 billion a year in interest now. The future is bleak, indeed, for the young people if we do not put an enforcement mechanism in this agreement. I wish we would vote ``no'' on the rule." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordJune 25, 1997

I am not interested in being a party to a balanced budget agreement that does not translate itself from an idea to a reality. There have been well-intentioned people in this town since 1980 who have tried mightily to balance the budget. This enforcement mechanism that was denied a vote on by this body, by the Committee on Rules, itself I think warrants a ``no'' vote, because, Mr. Speaker, this is the mechanism that translates the idea of a balanced budget, which most of us embrace, to actual reality. Without it, we are, I think, going down the same path as those that were here before us. We cannot afford that path again. We are spending over $250 billion a year in interest now. The future is bleak, indeed, for the young people if we do not put an enforcement mechanism in this agreement. I wish we would vote ``no'' on the rule.

Said by

John Tanner

Tennessee

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the need for an enforcement mechanism in a balanced budget agreement.

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