Porter Goss: “I rise to congratulate the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston]. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a victory for…”

“I rise to congratulate the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston]. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a victory for America--it's a milestone along the road toward balancing the budget. It hasn't been easy, but the Republican majority of this historic Congress has already delivered $53 billion in tangible savings for the taxpayers of this great country, while locking in program changes that will make those savings multiply in years to come. Sure, there had to be compromises-- and certainly all of us feel regret that we couldn't accomplish more. Of course, we are frustrated by the way the White House constantly moved the goalposts, at times to the point where some questioned whether the administration wanted a bipartisan agreement at all. We also had to contend continually with certain defenders-of-the-status-quo naysayers in the other party who attempted to block us at every turn. But I am proud that this Republican majority held firm to its basic common sense principles for America: We will not abandon our glidepath toward a balanced budget; we will not eviscerate our national defense; and we will not accept endless government intrusion into our lives just because the President and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party have again made big government and more give away spending the centerpiece of their election-year gameplan.”