Bill Clinton: “I ask that as we do move toward this debate on how we stimulate our economy and how we take care of our people, we put…”

“I ask that as we do move toward this debate on how we stimulate our economy and how we take care of our people, we put it in a broader context. I sometimes worry that talk about economic stimulus, talk about Tax Code provisions, talk about a lot of the issues that come before the Finance Committee and then come before the Senate may not be communicating directly and effectively with the public who need to follow this debate closely because what we will be or will not be deciding over the course of the next several weeks will have profound effects on our daily lives, on our quality of life, on our national security at home and abroad, and on the future of our economic growth and opportunities. The Finance Committee came out with a package that should deserve the support of Senators on both sides of the aisle. I am well aware there is a very different point of view on behalf of my colleagues on the other side, so we are going to have a debate. I agree with my colleague from North Dakota; it is an important debate. But we cannot look at what is being proposed today without recognizing several very important factors. First, we are now moving into deficits.”