Mr. President, today we continue one of the most important debates in the history of the Senate. The debate involves whether to change the basic, fundamental, organic law of this Nation forever, and for the first time to write fiscal policy into the Constitution of the United States--for the first time, amended only 27 times in its history. The Constitution of the United States is one of the most brilliant, uplifting, and inspired documents ever written by the hand of mere mortals. It has served as a model for other nations, nations that are struggling to emulate the American genius and ensure a government that allows maximum freedom for its people, and yet also fairly imposes the strictures of the rule of law.<p>
Such a document, with its carefully weighted checks and balances, its beautiful guarantees of freedom and liberty, its eloquent preamble of 52 words, and its visionary flexibility has inspired and guided this great Nation of ours for generations.<p>
Now the decision to preserve it for our future generations rests with this body--100 men and women sworn to support and defend this marvelous Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And the decision rests with us. The buck stops here. I have taken that oath 13 times in the last 48 years--to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I have administered the oath of office on a good many occasions to several of my colleagues, and I have considered it an honor and a privilege to do so.<p>
This body has a solemn responsibility to debate the proposed amendment carefully, fully, thoroughly and with diligence. Nothing on the Senate's agenda is as important as this proposal. It is the most important decision that will be made in this Senate this year. And if, which God avert, this amendment is adopted, it will prove to have been the most important amendment, the most important change to the Constitution since the Constitution became effective 206 years ago, and it will be the first time out of 27 times that an amendment has been adopted to damage this inimitable document.<p>
Nothing on the Senate's agenda, as I say, is as important as is this proposal. So I say that no politically crafted, so-called Contract With America--you have heard about that, the Contract With America, the so-called Contract With America. Let me show you my contract with America. Here it is, the Constitution of the United States. It cost me 15 cents. There it is--15 cents. Any Senators who wish to get similar copies may do so from the Government Printing Office. It only costs a dollar even at today's prices.<p>
So this so-called Contract With America, which I did not sign on to, and which just sprouted up like the prophet's gourd overnight, during the last election, should not drive this debate or crowd out the thorough consideration of this proposed constitutional amendment.<p>
We have a duty to air all sides before the public, lest there be any misunderstanding about what is being proposed. If we are to adopt this most serious of alterations to our Constitution, let us not do so without telling the American people exactly what the change will mean to them. Let us not do so without telling the American people exactly, to the very best of our ability, what the change will be to them, the American people.<p>
The debate may be at times tedious. It deals with concepts and truths which are not usually on the public radar screen. But it is our responsibility to focus the public, if we can, on this issue which is so fundamental, so fundamental to the future of our Nation.<p>
And so it is my hope that the Senate and its Members will concentrate their fractured attention spans, clear the decks, and listen to and participate in this extraordinary debate. Now, this is no ordinary bill. It is no mere amendment to a statute. This is the supreme law of the land about which we are talking. </body>
