On the recordJune 29, 2011
I thank the Acting President pro tempore. I thank my colleagues. They have made some very prescient points on how important this balanced budget amendment is. By the President's own Actuary, by 2020, our national debt will be over $20 trillion. The interest alone will be over $1 trillion. We will not have any money for the poor, the sick, and the needy because we have not lived within our means. We simply have to get spending under control. The only way to do that is to do what all these 49 States have to do every year; that is, balance our budget through a requisite constitutional amendment. Let me make one last point; that is, I do not know why the Democrats--some Democrats--fight against this. Because literally, even if we pass it through both Houses of Congress by the requisite two- thirds vote, there is still going to be a big battle in the States, and if they hate it, they can fight it out there in the States. I think the reason they fight it is they know if we pass it here, it is going to pass through the States very fast because almost every State knows what we have to do. Almost everybody of intelligence knows what we have to do. I yield the floor. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Iowa. ____________________
