[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

 Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I chose to vote against the 
balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, like I have in the past.
  Many good arguments were made throughout the debate against amending 
the Constitution of the United States to require a yearly balanced 
Federal budget. In fact, the Senate voted 14 times on amendments to 
improve the underlying resolution, in the hope of revealing its 
shortsightedness. In every instance, I supported my colleagues. I 
believe we were successful in painting a clear and honest picture of 
the disastrous effects such an amendment could have on the economic and 
social fabric of this country.
  This debate is about our Nation's spending priorities as much as it 
is about constitutional integrity. During the course of debate, I 
offered an amendment that would have made it a policy of the United 
States that in meeting the requirements of an annual balanced budget no 
cuts would be made that disproportionately affect children's programs 
in the areas of health care, nutrition, and education. Look at the 
evidence.
  In the 104th Congress, dramatic cuts were made to programs for low-
income families. According to the Center on Budget and Policy 
Priorities, more than 93 percent of the cuts in entitlement programs 
came from programs for low-income people. Congress reduced entitlement 
programs by $65.6 billion over the period from 1996 to 2002. In a 
letter of opposition to the BBA, the Women Legislator's Lobby, a group 
that speaks for women legislators across the country, pointed out to 
Senators that in 1997 the Federal Government spent four times more on 
the military than on housing, education, job training, and community 
development combined.
  The people of Minnesota sent me to Washington to make tough, 
responsible, fair decisions. Amending the Constitution to require a 
balanced budget would put a legally binding dollar target above the 
economic and social health of our country. Our goal of achieving fiscal 
responsibility should appropriately focus on critical investments in 
programs that provide basic nutrition, housing, health care, and 
education to those less fortunate, especially children.
  Our fixation with a constitutional amendment and our hunger for 
political gain have detracted from that important task. I will continue 
to press forward on finding a fair and equitable way to balance the 
budget because I think it is important to our country's future. 
Amending the Constitution in this way is not the answer.

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