Cord Byrd: “I join with him in expressing hope that we will apply these surpluses to reducing the national debt--after, of course…”

“I join with him in expressing hope that we will apply these surpluses to reducing the national debt--after, of course, shoring up Social Security. And we have to think of Medicare, also. I have been in politics now 53 years. The easiest vote that I ever cast was a vote to cut taxes. It didn't require any courage on my part. And likewise, one of the most difficult votes is a vote to increase taxes. We have to do that from time to time. Now, if Congress passes legislation to provide for tax cuts --and there may be some areas of tax cuts that I can very well support--but generally speaking, if we do, of course, the legislation that Congress enacts to do that would be permanent legislation, will it not, until changed? So if after a while--not 10 years hence, as the distinguished Senator has shown on his graph, but 5 years hence, or 4 years hence, 3 years hence--we hit upon hard times, then what? Would the reduced taxes continue, unless Congress legislated to increase them again?”