[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT FIGHT

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the balanced budget amendment fight has 
ended for the moment, but some rather unattractive reverberations seem 
still to be echoing in this Chamber and around this city. Honorable men 
and women wrestled with their consciences and did the best that they 
could to reach the right decision on the balanced budget amendment to 
the Constitution. Thirty days of good solid debate in the best Senate 
tradition persuaded some that the amendment was the right thing and 
some that it was the wrong thing. That is exactly what the 
constitutional Framers intended when they set up the difficult amending 
process laid out in the Constitution. But the Framers probably did not 
foresee the aftermath of political guerilla-warfare tactics that is now 
in progress, nor would they have understood or appreciated this 
particular unfortunate turn of events.
  Attack ads are already running in the States of certain Members who 
could not support the amendment this year because of its glaring 
deficiencies. Because of the thorough examination of the amendment on 
this floor and elsewhere, the constitutional amendment has been 
somewhat discredited. The idea has lost some support with the people 
and in its present form, it has lost the support of some Senators who 
had supported it in the past. There is nothing unusual about that. 
Proposals often fall out of favor when careful examination reveals 
their flaws. That is healthy. That is good for the Republic. That is 
representative democracy.
  But, the ugliness which continues to pervade the air on the days 
after the amendment's defeat is unwarranted, unwise, and to be 
regretted.
  Senators who have used their best judgment are under attack and in 
the most extreme of cases one Senator, it is rumored, has been 
threatened with his position on a Senate committee.
  When Senators are asked to check their integrity at the door to 
continue in good standing their membership in any political party, 
something is very, very wrong. When a Senator has to subordinate his 
conscience and his dedication to the Constitution of the United States 
to any political party, then we have come to a very poor pass in this 
Senate and in this country. When Members of the Senate are subjected to 
hit-list tactics because of their position of conscience on an 
important constitutional amendment, somewhere, somebody's perception of 
the word ``Honorable'' is seriously off track. And when losing a fair 
fight prompts the loud public ``chewing of rags'' which we have seen 
since last Thursday evening, everybody loses, including the Nation.
  I hope that the coming days will see a restoration of sanity and 
comity in this body. What we need to do now is to get on with the 
business of reducing the deficit, which is what the American people 
have really asked us to do. This Senate which so distinguished itself 
only last week with a wise and courageous decision on the balanced 
budget amendment, must cease the self-destructive and embarrassing 
threats and recriminations and once again distinguish itself by a 
serious attempt to do the people's business. That is what we are all 
elected and expected to do.
  Mr. President, for the information of Senators, I ask unanimous 
consent to include in the Record at this point rule XXIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate entitled ``Appointment of Committees.''
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                               Rule XXIV


                       appointment of committees

       1. In the appointment of the standing committees, or to 
     fill vacancies thereon, the Senate, unless otherwise ordered, 
     shall by resolution appoint the chairman of each such 
     committee and the other members thereof. On demand of any 
     Senator, a separate vote shall be had on the appointment of 
     the chairman of any such committee and on the appointment of 
     the other members thereof. Each such resolution shall be 
     subject to amendment and to division of the question.
       2. On demand of one-fifth of the Senators present, a quorum 
     being present, any vote taken pursuant to paragraph 1 shall 
     be by ballot.
       3. Except as otherwise provided or unless otherwise 
     ordered, all other committees, and the chairmen thereof, 
     shall be appointed in the same manner as standing committees.
       4. When a chairman of a committee shall resign or cease to 
     serve on a committee, action by the Senate to fill the 
     vacancy in such committee, unless specially otherwise 
     ordered, shall be only to fill up the number of members of 
     the committee, and the election of a new chairman.

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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