David Pryor

Mr. PRYOR

Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I had not planned to speak this afternoon. I certainly do not want to obstruct the flow of legislative business here. First, I would like to compliment my colleague and friend from Nebraska on his proposal this afternoon. I also want to say that I cannot support it at this time. I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues, Mr. President, the fact that in one section of the amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from Nebraska, which the Senate this afternoon, in just a few minutes of debate, is going to be asked vote on, states that it is ``essential that Congress, one, adopt a balanced budget amendment.'' That is one thing that the Exon amendment proposes to do. So we, after a very few moments and a very small skirmish on a very large constitutional issue, Mr. President, are going to be required in a few moments, with many absences--I assume some of our colleagues have gone back to their States, to vote on whether or not we think ``the Congress should adopt a balanced budget amendment.'' Maybe we think that the Congress should; maybe we think the Congress should not. But this is a very, very far-reaching proposal. Mr. President, my colleague and friend from Nebraska stated in the opening moments of his very eloquent presentation the fact that the American public, by overwhelming numbers, says, yes, we need a balanced budget and we need a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. I think there was a CBS poll or one of the polling operations that reported today or yesterday that a great majority of those polled say we need a constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Mr. President, I know there is a great euphoria around the Capitol these magnitude and intensity and velocity at this moment that the American people might not give us say a few months, a few months, perhaps even in the summer, early fall or October, certainly before we leave, to let us decide whether or not we want to propose to the 50 States that an amendment to the Federal Constitution be adopted to require a balanced budget. The Exon proposal, in my opinion, is a very, very responsible proposal because it will require, Mr. President, the policies to be specified that would be required to enforce a balanced budget amendment or, to say it in another way--I assume I am speaking with some degree of correctness--it would imply that there would have to be implementing legislation that would have to go along with a balanced budget amendment. I think that is a responsible course of action. I think, Mr. President, for us to this afternoon, on Friday, with a short debate, to even take a position on whether we want to, require 60 votes to waive a point of order--that is a new order of consideration provided by the Exon amendment--is questionable. We even go back to a procedure under the old Gramm-Rudman-Hollings concept that provides that the point of order will be suspended if Congress declares war or adopts a resolution certifying low economic growth. This is another question. But the Senator from Nebraska has put his finger on one of the most important things, and that is, do the people want us to vote for a balanced budget amendment before we know the facts? Now, do we know the facts, Mr. President? No, we do not know the facts. When we know the facts, then it will be the proper time and the proper opportunity for us to vote yes or no on whether we prefer a balanced budget amendment to the Federal Constitution. I hope that there will be some way to accommodate the Senator from Nebraska. I wish we could debate this even until next week, because I do not see the necessity to rush an amendment like this through, one of such important consequences, for which I do applaud my colleague and friend from Nebraska. Mr. EXON addressed the Chair.

Mr. PRYOR. The Senator from Arkansas would like to speak for a few moments in making an observation about this amendment. I ask, through the Chair, the distinguished majority leader, do we plan on a vote on the Exon amendment this afternoon?

Mr. PRYOR. I thank the Senator.