[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 64 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         WAS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? THE VOTERS HAVE SAID YES!

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the incredible Federal debt which long ago 
soared into the stratosphere is in about the same category as the 
weather--everybody talks about it but almost nobody had undertaken the 
responsibility of trying to do anything about it until immediately 
following the elections last November.
  When the 104th Congress convened in January, the U.S. House of 
Representatives approved a balanced budget amendment. In the Senate all 
but one of the 54 Republicans supported the balanced budget amendment 
but only 13 Democrats supported it. Thus, the balanced budget amendment 
failed by just one vote--there will be another vote later this year or 
next year.
  As of the close of business yesterday, Wednesday, April 5, the 
Federal debt stood--down to the penny--at exactly 
$4,878,158,190,719.92.

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