Senate Republicans Will Fight for a Balanced Budget Amendment Vote

Press Release

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding S.J. Res. 23, the Senate Republicans' Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. McConnell began the Rule 14 process today on the amendment in order to place it on the Senate's legislative calendar:

"If this week has shown us anything it's that the American people can't wait on Democrats to do the right thing when it comes to spending and debt and putting us on a path to balance.

"So today Republicans are beginning the Rule 14 process on a Balanced Budget Amendment.

"A Balanced Budget Amendment would require that lawmakers stop spending money we don't have. And when we return from the July 4th break we'll fight for an opportunity to vote for it.

"We've had a chance this week to see how Democrats in Washington want to deal with the fiscal mess they've helped create -- by forcing the taxpayers and the job creators to bear the burden.

"Well, Republicans think it's about time Washington bears the burden for a change. Let Washington find a way to balance the books on its own.

"The American people have paid enough of a price over the past few years for Washington's recklessness --Republicans aren't going to allow Democrats to make them pay even more.

"Speaker Boehner has already committed to a Balanced Budget vote the week of July 25th, so the Speaker and I are united in this effort.

"And Americans can expect all 47 Republicans in the Senate to support it.

"It's time to put the American people back at the helm of our ship of state.

"And if that's what this vote achieves, then this debate we're having will have been well worth it.

"If Washington is forced to finally reform its ways, then we'll all look back and say the American people won this debate.

"And we'll say that the Balanced Budget Amendment was just the thing we needed to get our house in order.

"Broke or Balanced -- that's the choice."

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