Bob Wise: “reclaiming my time, if the gentleman wants to talk about smoke and mirrors, I think that is a perfect example of some of…”

“reclaiming my time, if the gentleman wants to talk about smoke and mirrors, I think that is a perfect example of some of it. We have had a very good debate to date. We have just had that kind of outburst challenging motivations. I would say to the Chair, my amendment is not smoke and mirrors. I do not think the amendment by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Kyl] was smoke and mirrors. I do not think the debate of the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Barton] was smoke and mirrors. And certainly those who preceded me in offering amendments had no intentions and did not spend countless hours to simply put forward smoke and mirrors. Mr. Chairman, I look forward to those votes of courage that are required, should this amendment pass. My experience last time was that when it came time to actually write the legislation that would have balanced the budget in 8 years, that many who beat their breasts the loudest for a balanced budget amendment, when they actually saw the numbers in the outyears of what it would take, particularly what would have to happen to entitlements, that they suddenly went off into the glimmering shadows, legislative shadows. So the casting of this vote will be done out of conviction, I know. But the real courage comes in how you actually balance it. Please, I have heard some assertions here earlier in previous debate about how do not worry, programs will not be cut that hurt anybody, and do not worry, there will not be any taxes.”