Tom Carper

One of the best ways we could strengthen the economy would be to show that we have the discipline here, the wherewithal, and the willingness to work together.

We need to do something on the spending side. It cannot just be all discretionary spending, or defense spending, or entitlement spending.

It is hard to believe when I tell younger people, but it was not all that long ago that we actually had a balanced Federal budget.

You stole the money from Social Security to re-up Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which was totally out of money.

If the President had run with this when you guys said, 'This is what we recommend,' we would not be having this hearing today.

I believe the improper payments, both in Medicare and Medicaid, account for over 50 percent of the improper payments for those agencies that estimate improper payments.

Ronald Reagan said [the Earned Income Tax Credit] was the best anti-poverty program ever.

I want to applaud your courage--political courage--for supporting it and for being very vocal about it.

I think that what we need to do is save the programs for our kids and grandchildren.

I just want to say that two of my favorite people on the planet are here.

I think under some of our cuts in recent years, the resources for GAO have been diminished.

It is shameful. I think it is shameful.

We are not very good at paying for things that we know we need.

All right. Was your term 'gratuitous'? What was that term?

These ongoing and growing threats to our international competitiveness are some of the main reasons that I continue to support the efforts of some of our colleagues, particularly Senator Schumer.

I want to especially thank my colleague to my right, Senator Cardin, and Senator Thune, who is not here.

I do not think we should give up.

Yes. What would be the opposite of that?

We are committed to our efficiency principle of good regulation.

If I were the Chairman, you never would have gotten those extra 3 minutes and 6 seconds.

He always talked about the 80/20 rule.

I want to make sure I get my 6 years' worth out of that battery I just bought.

If I was the utilities, I would say you guys have to sharpen your pencils a little bit more and figure out how to save some money if you expect us to continue to pay through the nose.

The reputation of the NRC for being a gold standard, as Senator Carper pointed out, is a good brand.

When our country began exploring nuclear power, I think it was more than 60 years ago.