[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E171-E172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WHY I INTRODUCED THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 1999

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, when I ran for the United States Congress, 
I campaigned on virtually one single issue--balancing the budget.
  Whenever I speak on the matter, I think of my friend Delmar Burhenn. 
His family works hard to make ends meet on their Baca County farm 
located in the extreme southeast corner of Colorado.
  I savor every chance I get to speak with Delmar. He has opinions 
about everything--retirement, the reliability of farm equipment, saving 
for a vacation, and so on.
  During my first term in Congress, we balanced the budget, reduced 
taxes and improved education. During the 106th Congress, we want to 
build on these achievements by preserving Social Security, giving 
families like Delmar's more tax relief, and permanently balancing the 
budget.
  Of these, the most pressing issue is balancing the federal budget 
permanently. That's why I introduced HJR 1, the Balanced Budget 
Amendment Reduction of 1998, on the first day of session. Even while 
the Republican-led Congress exercises fiscal discipline in Washington, 
I believe the only way to protect families like Delmar's is by making 
it a requirement federal books remain balanced forever.
  Some are unaware Congress balanced the federal budget last year. We 
did. In fact, we delivered the first balanced budget since 1969, a big 
step in the right direction. But that was simply a temporary victory 
that can be lost with the political winds. The Balanced Budget 
Amendment I propose guarantees the federal budget will be balanced each 
year to come.
  Under my proposal, the only time the budget could be broken is by 
affirmative vote of a

[[Page E172]]

three-fifths super majority in both the House and the Senate. This 
super majority would be too high a hurdle for frivolous, spur-of-the-
moment impulse spending. Congress would only be able to spend more than 
income warrants during times of real need like national emergencies and 
war.
  The Balanced Budget Amendment would also help us accomplish one of my 
top priorities for the 106th Congress, preserving and protecting Social 
Security for future generations. Right now the federal government 
``borrows'' from the Social Security surplus in order to pay for other 
numerous federal programs such as education, Medicare, and 
transportation. Even by conservative estimates, without an end to this 
``borrowing,'' we can count on Social Security running deficits by 
2012, and headed toward bankruptcy in the early 2020's.
  With a permanently balanced budget, the federal government will be 
forced to prioritize money for these programs and others important to 
Coloradans. By reducing the amount we borrow to meet today's federal 
debt obligation, we pay less interest on the national debt each year.
  Even with all of these incentives to pass the Balanced Budget 
Amendment, it won't be easy. There are still too many big spenders in 
Washington who are adept at creating new expensive programs for every 
problem. Under the Balanced Budget Amendment, liberals won't be able to 
continue their free spending ways without considering the long-term 
consequences to Colorado families like Delmar's.
  It's time to stop runaway government spending. Coloradans balanced 
their checkbooks every day, knowing they can't spend money they don't 
have. I don't think there's any reason to expect less of the federal 
government.
  By passing the Balanced Budget Amendment, Delmar will be assured 
bureaucrats in Washington will have to worry about making ends meet 
just like he does.

                          ____________________