James Davis: “I believe that like the rest of the country we do some of our best work when we come together and try to look very…”

“I believe that like the rest of the country we do some of our best work when we come together and try to look very carefully at what we have in common and how we can work together towards the common goal, and such is the strength of the budget resolution today that has as its primary emphasis balancing the Federal budget. This in my mind is the glue that has put this agreement together and the glue that will hold this agreement together, including between Democrats and Republicans. Let us not forget that the amount of interest that we are paying annually on the Federal debt more than exceeds the annual amount of income tax paid by every individual living west of the Mississippi in the United States, an average of about $3,000 a taxpayer. This is a compelling debt we cannot allow our children and grandchildren to inherit. What further gives this budget resolution integrity is it strikes the appropriate balance between preserving our priorities, Medicare, Medicaid and, in particular, education while balancing the budget. This is a major distinction between the budget of the Congress passed last year that the President thankfully vetoed that would have devastated States like Florida, where I come from, in terms of the impact of a very sudden and massive reduction in Medicaid. The proper balance has been struck here.”