Political Quotes

“I come here today to compliment the minority leader, Senator McConnell, for his resolution in our effort to put a balanced budget amendment onto the Constitution of the United States. I come here today to tell you a little story about a friend of mine from Douglas, WY. I was in Douglas on Memorial Day. Every year on Memorial Day in Douglas, they have sunrise ceremony services in the cemetery where they raise the flag, go through the names of all the veterans from Converse County who have passed in the last year, put the flag back at halfstaff, 21-gun salute, and a time for people to come together and think about this great Nation and honor those who have given their lives. After the ceremony this year, people were leaving the ceremony. My friend Bernie Seebaum stopped me and said: You know, Senator--we have known each other a long time. He is on Medicare now, Social Security, has lived a long life, contributed to the community. He said: I don't care if you do a number of things--if you raise taxes, cut Medicare, take away Social Security--as long as you use it to pay off this debt, this $14 trillion debt. I said: Bernie, the problem is, if Congress ever does something like that, they are going to get the money and they are just going to spend it. The first thing we need to do is amend the Constitution so that we actually balance the budget. Then you can start talking about ways to pay off this incredible debt we have.…”