Cliff Stearns: “many people ask me, how can you come to an agreement on the balanced budget with a President whose vision for America is…”

“many people ask me, how can you come to an agreement on the balanced budget with a President whose vision for America is so much different than your own? That is a fair question. I think we should address that this morning. The answer, of course, is with great difficulty. It is no secret that the Democrats and Republicans have honest fundamental differences in our view of the role of government in our lives. It is no secret that the Democrats want government to have a greater role in our lives, and Republicans think that the Government's role is far too great. It is no secret that the Democrats want to increase the size and power of government. Republicans want to reduce it. It is no secret that the Democrats think that more government can help to solve the problem of poverty. Republicans think that far from ending poverty, government welfare programs perpetuate it. Mr. Speaker, we disagree on matters of principle, but the American people have asked us to work together to balance the budget. Let us go forward and carry out their wishes.”