Bob Wise: “I think we may be trying to find something to fight about. I think we are both saying the same thing. I am saying my…”

“I think we may be trying to find something to fight about. I think we are both saying the same thing. I am saying my concern over the Kyl amendment, by the 19-percent limitation written into the Constitution, at a time when you need the Government to respond most aggressively, and that means usually additional spending, unemployment compensation, job stimulation, whatever form it takes, at a time when you need it to respond most aggressively, the Kyl amendment would require a 60-percent vote. And that is an extremely difficult hurdle to overcome. I would also like to ask this gentleman or perhaps the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Kyl], I was doing some checking on percentages of GDP that outlays were during times of conflicts. And I agree with the gentleman from Arizona that during World War II, 1943, when outlays were 44 percent, I do not think you would have had trouble with a 60-percent vote. I would note, though, that large amount of outlay in relation to GDP. I would go to the Vietnam era, where I note that from 1966 on through the Vietnam era, I do not believe there is 1 year that outlays were less than 19 percent. In particular, in the later years of Vietnam, would it not have been difficult to get that 60 percent that the gentleman requires?”