Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, budgeting in the U.S. Government is the most complex procedure I have ever dealt with in my life. With a family budget, we sit down and look at our checkbook. With a corporate budget, generally there is a committee that does it. And in State, city, or country government, there is one committee that does the appropriations and sets the basic budget tone and then it is reviewed and signed or not signed. Here in Washington, we deal with budget resolutions done by one committee, appropriations bills done by 13 subcommittees, appropriations bills, reconciliations, raising the debt ceiling of the United States of America, maybe a continuing resolution. It has taken me the 2 rac{1}{2} years that I have been here just to begin to comprehend what it is we are doing with it. Mr. Chairman, how is it for the public? All they know is that we have a $4.95 trillion debt, that we have a deficit every year, and they keep saying to me, and all of us, I am sure, 'Why can't you all balance the budget?' I think we are honestly making an effort.…”