Orrin Hatch: “I acknowledge my colleague is sincere. It does not negate the fact we have to live within budget constraints or this…”

“I acknowledge my colleague is sincere. It does not negate the fact we have to live within budget constraints or this country will go down and children will be the first to be hurt. That is why this amendment is so important. You cannot make any exceptions. If you make exceptions, then it does not become important. It does not work and it will not be the constraint that we need, it will not be the fiscal discipline, that it will make a difference whether this country really continues to be the greatest country in the world or not and whether it can do for children and families what we would all like to do. The best thing we can do is pass this amendment and pass it without exceptions... It takes guts to stand up and do what is fiscally responsible, because it is easier to offer spending through all these constituencies then it is to have to make priority choices. This amendment will force us to make priority choices. I think that is critical in any kind of nation that really wants to call itself great.”