John Cornyn: “I join my colleagues from Kentucky and the junior Senator from Utah in recognizing the leadership of the senior Senator…”

“I join my colleagues from Kentucky and the junior Senator from Utah in recognizing the leadership of the senior Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch, on this even more compelling issue today than it was even back in 1997, the balanced budget amendment. I couldn't help but be struck by the figures the senior Senator from Utah mentioned earlier when he said that in 1997, the House of Representatives passed the balanced budget amendment. It came to the Senate and failed by one vote. The deficit in 1997 was roughly $107 billion. Today, it is $1.5 trillion. The national debt in 1997, if I recall what the Senator said--and he can correct me if I am wrong-- today it is roughly $14.3 trillion, approaching $15 trillion. Back in 1997, it was $5 trillion. Did I get those figures roughly correct?”