Orrin Hatch: “I cannot begin to tell folks out there how much I appreciate these new Senators, who really realize how important it is…”

“I cannot begin to tell folks out there how much I appreciate these new Senators, who really realize how important it is to bring about change in the Congress of the United States. I particularly appreciate these last two who have spoken here today, Senator Grams and Senator Thompson. They know what the feeling is out there. They understand the American people are sick and tired of what is going on. They know that we have to do something about it. Mr. President, I was very interested in how the Daschle amendment was brought to the forefront here today. I was absolutely astounded at the form of that amendment. That amendment is a trivialization of the Constitution of the United States. As a matter of fact, the Daschle substitute amendment is unconstitutional. It is constitutionally defective. It sets forth a mode of promulgation for the balanced budget amendment that violates article V of the Constitution. Article V sets forth only two conditions for promulgation by Congress of a constitutional amendment. First, the amendment must be passed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress. Second, Congress may specify the mode of ratification of the amendment. That is, Congress may specify either that the amendment is to be ratified by State legislatures or State conventions. These are the only constraints that the Constitution attached to Congress in promulgating an amendment.”