Date: 2011-11-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

The gentleman is eloquent in his analysis. And as an appropriator. the gentleman knows full well the value of regular order. That is that the voices of not only the appropriators. meaning those on the Appropriations Committee. but other Members are able to. in essence. craft the ultimate appropriations. maybe working with a budget. maybe not. based upon the current needs of the American people. The balanced budget amendment will stand not as a guard at the door of the United States Congressthe doors are to my left. We come in and out. It will literally be a lock and chain on the door because it will say to those who are running for office. in essence. you are powerless. You will either be as other litigants in the courthouse in the third branch of government seeking refuge for your constituents. or you will make at being a Member of Congress and spend most of your time fighting the balanced budget amendment in the courts. The gentleman is absolutely correct. and I would add to this that. even though they make a way for disasters and wars. even if it is presumed to be under the jurisdiction of the Presidents executive powers to even expend any dollars. one would have to come to this body to receive a majority vote by this House and a majority vote by the other House. That means that all branches of government will be under this lock. The President will not be able to act as a President. The Congress will have disagreement as to whether or not its a war we support or conflict we support or an emergency we support. and. in essence. to the gentlemans very fine point. and as I indicated. we will be clogging the Federal courts on each iota of disagreement dealing with from vast issues of protecting the homeland to the necessity of defending the principles of democracy around the world. And I know there are some probably listening and they are probably applauding because they are saying. I dont want to help anyone anyhow. But some of that help falls back on the safety and security of the American people. What is going on in Somalia. the frightening devastation of death that we are not acknowledging. might be a cause for the support of the American Government to help in the survival of those people. We will be in a stranglehold from doing that. The crisis in Syria. which I wanted to just make mention of and to ask Dr. Assad. as the Arab League has asked. and as I continue to ask and as my Syrian American neighbors have asked. to step down. which might warrant the United States joining with people of goodwill to help the Syrian people. we will find ourselves in court for each step of our responsibilities. The oath we take. that will be in conflict with the balanced budget amendment as it is presently written by the gentleman from Virginia. By the way. if it is not passed as it is. a longwinded process will generate. and I assume that it is the same balanced budget amendment on the other body. but this will be a long. protracted process while we continue to languish and not do the peoples bidding. I would rather do the peoples bidding than I would want to. again. yield to a process that by its very nature is fractured and does not adhere to the Constitution as relates to having control of the pursestrings. being able to raise armies. being able to provide for the general welfare of the American people. What are we talking about here? Am I going to have to prosecute a case in the Federal courts on the question of the general welfare of the American people when we will be thwarted here on the floor of the House because of the balanced budget amendment? I would be happy to yield to my friend.