On the recordJuly 21, 2011
I couldn't agree more. I think the American people rightly have concluded that our Congress of the United States that borrows 40 percent of the amount of money it spends--because it is spending more money than it takes in--is acting irresponsibly. As I have noted earlier, somebody said: Oh, you know, the tea party is angry. Well, why shouldn't they be angry? We have completely mismanaged the American people's business. We are elected to be responsible leaders. Nobody, I believe, would come to the floor of this Senate--I would like to see if it happens--and defend what we are doing, borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend no matter what it is on. And the President proposed his budget for next year that would include a 10-percent increase for education, 10-percent increase for energy, 10-percent increase for the State Department, and we are spending money that we don't have. So I think a constitutional amendment would require a major participation by the American people and all the States of America would discuss it. If the American people decide they believe Congress needs to be restrained and pass that constitutional amendment, what is wrong with that? Isn't that a legitimate way for the American people to have their voices expressed according to the Constitution?
