the overarching mission of this committee is to find common ground.

Do you agree that a VAT is a viable option?

is it fair to value wealth more than we value work?

it is unfair that the wealthiest among us get the most tax breaks.

Well, just let me say, to be certain, I am just as concerned as my good friend Senator Kyl is about fraud and abuse.

it is unfair that a number of top corporations who are making record profits pay more to their CEOs than they do in taxes.

isn't it true that every major economy with which the United States competes really funds their government through consumption taxes?

So it is a double whammy.

it is unfair that wages are often taxed at a higher rate than investments.

If we want to solve the related problems of debt and joblessness, we need to know how these problems arose.

We created a new prescription drug benefit program, which CBO estimates will cost $967 billion over the next 10 years.

And then it was declared that deficits don't matter. This special committee was created because deficits and debt do matter.

is it class warfare to seek some equity in the Tax Code?

Instead of building on the policies that have served us so well, we embarked upon two wars, one of which was dubious at best.

If we had a decrease in unemployment of just, say, 0.5 percent--from 9.1 to 8.6--what would be the level of revenue increase?

if we were do it, let's do a $1.5 trillion deficit reduction and let's do it on the backs of those same people.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

the primary function of the national government is national defense.