Political Quotes

“I wish to express my admiration to my colleague from Idaho on the quality and clarity with which he has outlined both what the President proposes to Members, and the way in which that proposal illustrates better than almost anything we can say the need for this constitutional amendment. Last week, Mr. President, we ended the week in a debate over a motion by the distinguished leader of the Democratic Party that would have the effect of adding to this constitutional amendment for a balanced budget a detailed set of requirements, the net result of which would be to mandate that the Congress pass binding laws which would lead to a balanced budget by the year 2002 before the amendment itself would be submitted to the States. Those requirements themselves were to become, according to the distinguished Democratic leader, a part of the Constitution of the United States. Thus, they would preempt to this Congress not only the statement of a general principle, but an outline of the precise blueprint by which a balanced budget would be reached, taking that power away from three Congresses that are to convene between now and the year 2002, and ignoring totally whatever dynamic changes may and will take place both in our economy and in our situation in the world during that period of time. The proposal was an improvident and unreasonable proposal, in any event.…”