Let's take a pretty straightforward example. Let's say that we wanted to reduce taxes. By the way, we can acknowledge there is a debate about whether reducing taxes does, in fact, generate revenue or not. But for these purposes and…

The gentleman said that the House rules already provided for paygo. So why are we here so concerned about it? Mr. McADAMS. One of my concerns is the willingness with which both sides, both parties, will waive paygo. It takes a simple…

In other words, not financed by additional debt, which would have the result of driving up the deficit, the debt, and interest payments? Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah. Mr. McADAMS. That is exactly right. I describe it…

One other point that the gentleman made that I think bears further discussion is the gentleman's reference to paygo. Of course, we throw ``paygo'' around here all the time. Sometimes, people's eyes kind of blank out when we talk about…

Essentially, we have a rule that is honored in the breach? Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah. Mr. McADAMS. Yes.

I think what the gentleman is saying in a very gracious Utah way is that the lack of a balanced budget where we always have the recourse to just borrow money and kick some cans down the road disincentivizes the efficient and effective…

I thank the gentleman. Let's talk about his proposed balanced budget amendment, by the way, of which I am a proud cosponsor. Some people criticized the balanced budget amendment which would have to be ratified throughout our country, as an…

Again, I am honored to be the gentleman's co-chair, and I thank the gentleman for adding to our debate today. Madam Speaker, I want to make one other point before I close on this subject. I want to emphasize one of the points made by my…

Conversely, if we want to increase Federal spending, we have to either reduce some other Federal spending or increase taxes, correct? Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah. Mr. McADAMS. Exactly. That is correct.

Of course. One of the elements of our Blue Dog fiscal responsibility blueprint is to tighten up the rules on paygo so that we stop the bleeding on debt and deficit spending. Mr. McADAMS. Exactly.

The gentleman made reference to the fact that he was a mayor, and I made the comment to the gentleman once, and I believe it, that of all of the public officials I have ever worked with throughout the country, I think mayors understand…

I thank the gentleman so much, and I am privileged to be his co-chair. Would the gentleman engage me in a colloquy on a few of the issues that he touched on? Mr. McADAMS. Will the gentleman yield?

I rise as a proud member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. For a quarter century, the Blue Dogs in Congress have focused on three missions: fiscal responsibility for our country, a strong national defense, and commonsense solutions to…

So to that point, my experience in Hawaii, where we have had a balanced budget for a long time--and I was a State legislator--so I had knock-down, drag-out fights over all this kind of stuff, whether it be to increase spending, or tax…

As, by the way, is the case with 49 out of 50 of our States, who either have a similar balanced budget amendment in their constitution or by statute. Mr. McADAMS. Madam Speaker, that is correct. In my own State of Utah that has a balanced…

So we always have the ability to override the basic provisions with that balanced budget amendment in Congress, or where we believe that we do have to borrow that money. This is just a mechanism to introduce the same fiscal discipline that…

Leader McConnell may, in fact, be proud that he has turned the Senate floor into a legislative graveyard, but that doesn't mean we Senators have abandoned our effort to make this body work for the American people. Today the special…

Members of the consortium actually have lots of questions, too, similar to the questions that are being offered on this dais. And they have great reservations about moving forward, but they do not want to be left out because of Facebook's…