If we can't have the courage to tell our constituents, hey, we've got to cut back, then if we can point to something and say, I would like to vote for more benefits for you, but this balanced budget amendment or statutory spending cap or whatever the device is, is preventing me from doing it.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of political courage and accountability. It suggests that politicians may sometimes lack the bravery to inform their constituents about the need for budget cuts. To avoid taking ownership of unpopular decisions, they may instead attribute their inability to increase benefits to external constraints, such as balanced budget amendments or spending caps. The quote underscores the challenge politicians face in balancing the desires of the people they represent with the fiscal responsibilities they have as policymakers.

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