[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

  (Mr. BROUN of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, 16 years ago, Congress failed to 
pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution by a single Senate 
vote. Back then, our national debt was about $5 trillion. Today, our 
debt stands at nearly $15 trillion, and our Democrat leadership is 
showing no signs of slowing down their outrageous spending.
  Imagine what the state of the economy could look like if it weren't 
strapped down by that extra $10 trillion worth of debt. Imagine how 
much brighter the future of our children and grandchildren could be 
without the threat of having to repay the money that Washington has 
wasted. Imagine how mom-and-pop shops could be growing, hiring and 
expanding if looming tax increases weren't a factor in their business 
plans.
  Enough is enough. Missing another opportunity to balance the budget 
is not a mistake that we can afford to make twice. That's why I 
authored my balanced budget amendment, so that we can stop the spending 
and start paying down our debt.
  I urge all of my colleagues to become cosponsors of my amendment, 
which is the most conservative and effective approach to balancing the 
budget.

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