[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12534]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

  (Ms. HANABUSA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, at what price your vote last night? People 
have the right to know.
  I can tell you what it wasn't for. It wasn't for our seniors. It 
wasn't to protect their Medicare. And it wasn't to protect those who 
need help the most, those on Medicaid.
  So I ask you again, at what price?
  You've heard speeches today about cut, cap, and balance, and we all 
know that amendment that came in at the 11th hour was on the balanced 
budget amendment.
  So what is this balanced budget amendment that you have put so much 
faith in? It is not what the people think it is. Mr. Speaker, I believe 
you have an obligation to tell people that the balanced budget 
amendment doesn't mean you simply can spend only what you take in. It 
means you might be able to spend what you take in unless three-fifths 
of us say you can spend more. That's not what the people think it is.
  You've got to stop this facade. As we say in Hawaii: Stop the 
``shibai,'' Mr. Speaker. Tell people what they want to know. Tell them 
at what price you are holding this all up.

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