On the recordDecember 14, 2011
Madam President, this is the last chance to vote for a constitutional amendment that will truly do something, that will tie the hands of Congress so they have to live within fiscal constraints. We are taxing and spending this country into bankruptcy. We have a $15 trillion-plus national debt, growing to $20 trillion to $30 trillion. We don't have any restraint around here. People say: If we just live up to the Constitution and restrain ourselves, we can do that. They have been saying that for 35 years. The only time we have come to a balanced budget around here is when we had the first Republican Congress in over 40 years and we had a President who was willing to support it. This is our chance to try to do something for our country that will stop the outrageous, out-of-control spending. We need to do it. This amendment is the only one that can do it. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont.
