Joe Barton: “the last time the U.S. Government had a balanced budget was in 1969. That is 25 years ago. Today, Congressman Charles…”

“the last time the U.S. Government had a balanced budget was in 1969. That is 25 years ago. Today, Congressman Charles Stenholm, Congressman Bob Smith, myself, and several other Congressmen are filing Discharge Petition 14 which would instruct the Rules Committee to report to the floor several balanced-budget amendments to the Constitution of the United States. I would ask every Member of this body before they leave for the weekend to be sure to come up here to the desk and sign Discharge Petition 14. Members may differ on what type of a balanced-budget amendment they would prefer. The gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Tauzin] and myself have a tax limitation balanced-budget amendment, but whatever Members' preference in specific amendments, we should all agree that it is time to begin the process to balance the Federal budget. Please sign Discharge Petition 14.”