[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   URGING MEMBERS TO JOIN IN SUPPORTING THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

  (Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, 12 years ago this month I was elected to the 
State legislature in Michigan and entered politics full time for the 
first time in my life. At that time I opposed the Federal balanced 
budget amendment. Today I will be voting for the balanced budget 
amendment.
  Why did I have that change of heart? It is because of my experience 
at the State level, working with a balanced budget amendment and a 
line-item veto, and seeing that it works. Furthermore, it came from 
observing that over the past half century Congress has not demonstrated 
that it has the collective self-discipline to balance the budget. It 
needs some outside impetus to require it.
  I have seen it work at the State level. The fact that it exists 
forces the State legislatures to balance their budgets. If we have a 
Federal balanced budget amendment, that will force our Congress to 
balance the budget that they submit to the President each year.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not forget our children and grandchildren and our 
obligation to them. Let us join in supporting the balanced budget 
amendment.


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