Road To Budget Amendment Getting Rockier -- Jan. 24, 1997
Bowles: White House Will Fight Balanced Budget Amendment -- Jan. 19, 1997
Budget Amendment In Reach, Says Republicans
By Candy Crowley/CNNWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Moving towards what they say is their number one legislative priority this year, Senate Republican leaders believe the balanced budget amendment is within reach. At a news conference today, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was joined by several other Republicans who are leading the push.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch says there are seven reasons why the amendment should be approved. Among them, he says, it will restore integrity to the United States and provide economic freedom for our children and families. Hatch says the current debt is "fiscal child abuse" and "is suffocating our own families."
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig says "the handwriting is on the wall" and that passage "can become a reality" this year. The measure failed by one vote in the Senate during the 104th Congress after passing the House.