Judd Gregg: “My suggestion is that we take a lesser step but one which would produce an efficient response to a known problem.”

I think Simpson-Bowles got it right on this point. We reduced deductions and exemptions so that we generated $1.1 trillion of revenue every year.

I happen to think that if you're going to do budgets and you're going to pass budgets on a partisan basis, the budget becomes irrelevant.

the first obligation of a national government is national defense, in my opinion.

the policies behind getting these numbers under control are extremely difficult politically, because they involve very tough decisions.