Lateefah Simon: “I am going to join Senator Exon in opposing this budget resolution for several reasons. First, we have tax cuts in here.…”

“I am going to join Senator Exon in opposing this budget resolution for several reasons. First, we have tax cuts in here. Now, I recognize that leadership of both parties is saying we ought to go ahead with a tax cut. I do not think it makes any sense whatsoever when we have a deficit. It is like when we say we are going to have a 7-year glidepath to a balanced budget, but we are going to start off with a tax cut. That is like having a New Year's resolution that you are going to diet and then you start off with a great big dessert. It is not a very propitious way of doing it. And both parties are saving the tough things, the tough decisions, to the end of the 7 years. That is why we need the constitutional amendment for a balanced budget, in order to really move in that direction. Second, in the area of defense, the conference is $11.3 billion over what the Pentagon requested. No other agency gets more than they request, but the Defense Department does. I think it is unrealistic.”