Orrin Hatch: “That is a good indication also that they do not want it passed. They know it is bad themselves. They know that it is…”

“That is a good indication also that they do not want it passed. They know it is bad themselves. They know that it is just a subterfuge to give people some cover so they do not have to vote for the real balanced budget amendment, which is the Simon-Hatch amendment. Look, we know the game. We have been at this the full 18 years I have been here and all of the time the distinguished Senator from Illinois has been here. We know that if we are going to pass a balanced budget constitutional amendment it has to be Senate Joint Resolution 41 or something awfully close to it because it is the consensus vehicle to get Congress to do what has to be done. I have to compliment all of those who have worked on this because we have worked very hard to get this consensus, and we have the consensus of the majority of the House of Representatives. I think we are very close to having that consensus here. I hope our colleagues will consider that. Mr. President, the Reid amendment exempts capital investments from balanced budget requirements. "Capital investments" is not defined. Who knows how broadly that is going to be construed or what it might include? It could cover everything from education to transportation expenditures. Virtually anything could be excluded from being subject to a balanced budget requisite under this provision. So it is crazy to call this Reid amendment a balanced budget amendment.”