[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

  (Mr. KLECZKA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, over the past years I have supported 
various versions of the balanced budget amendment. However, I have not 
been willing to support just any version. After studying all of the 
proposals that will be coming up next week, I find them deficient in 
two areas, and I am introducing today an alternative amendment along 
with the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse] and the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Deutsch]. I should point out it is identical to the 
contract balanced budget amendment, except for two critical points.
  First, it excludes the Social Security trust fund, which our Nation's 
senior citizens depend on. Second, it does not require a three-fifths 
vote to raise taxes.
  If the House can vote with a simple majority to declare war or for 
impeachment of a President, we should be able to set tax policy in the 
same manner. This resolution creates a prudent and viable balance among 
fiscal responsibility, majority rule, and our responsibility to our 
fellow Americans.
  Please join myself, the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse], and the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Deutsch], as a cosponsor of this balanced 
budget resolution.

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