Political Quotes

“It is an important issue, I think. I really do. I wish to make this point: There is only one bill that has passed and been advocated, that is actually on the floor of the Senate, that raises the debt ceiling and changes our debt course in America, and that is the bill the Senator from Utah has brought up--the cut, cap, and balance bill--the bill he has been so articulately describing and advocating. That is the only bill. They say this is senseless. Well, do you have anything that raises the debt ceiling and does something about the debt of America? Does anybody else in the Senate? Or, if they bring it up, will they be blocked from bringing it up? I don't see it. The only legislation is this legislation. It is not senseless. It is very significant. When I came to the Senate the first year in 1997, we voted on an amendment to balance the budget, a constitutional amendment. We thought the votes were there to pass it, taking all the people who voted for it and when they said they were going to vote, there were enough votes to pass it, it appeared, and at the last moment several Senators changed their vote and it only got 66 votes. Had it had 67, it would have gone to the States. I am convinced that balanced budget amendment would have passed. Had it passed, we wouldn't be in the financial crisis we are in today. Now that is a fact, I believe. I don't think this is a senseless process.…”