DENNIS A. CARDOZA: “Thank you, Mr. Ross. It is great to be here again with you as we talk about the fiscal challenges that face our country.…”

“Thank you, Mr. Ross. It is great to be here again with you as we talk about the fiscal challenges that face our country. I was glad to hear you talk about how the Blue Dog Coalition has tried to, in a bipartisan nature, work with the other side of the aisle to bring about some fiscal responsibility. In fact, the Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to the Speaker and to the President asking for a bipartisan working group to try and get to the bottom of balancing the budget and dealing with this fiscal irresponsibility. We have yet to hear from the President. We would certainly like to sit down with him and discuss our ideas to bring fiscal accountability to our Nation's government. As moderates and fiscal hawks, the Blue Dogs are just trying to do the right thing for America. We are trying to get engaged in a real debate on fiscal responsibility because we need to return honesty and accountability to our Nation's finances. I am deeply concerned with the continued deficit spending and the complete disregard for fiscally responsible policies and really a fundamental dishonest budget process. The President's proposed $2.7 trillion budget will decrease domestic spending, yet still leave a massive $355 billion budget deficit for this fiscal year. But the $355 billion is not the whole story.…”