Austin Scott: “It is great to be with you, Mr. Ross, and with my colleagues from the Blue Dogs and our distinguished cochairman. I…”

“It is great to be with you, Mr. Ross, and with my colleagues from the Blue Dogs and our distinguished cochairman. I think this startling information that you have just made known to the American people speaks to the fundamental issue at hand, and it is, in one word, security. Financial security. We cannot have national security if we do not have financial security. We cannot even have homeland security if we do not have financial security or health care security. Whatever our security is, it is anchored in financial security. With security comes the word ``confidence,'' and you have just shattered that realization by bringing this information to the forefront and revealing how badly we need to restore the confidence of the American people for this government's ability to handle their financial security. But I will tell you something that really adds and complements what you have brought to the American people tonight, because I have a bit of information that ought to be startling as well. As we look at this report, as we basically see firsthand that the books have been cooked, so to speak, by this revealing document, which almost doubles the $319 billion deficit, because now we know it is $760 billion deficit by the words of the Treasury Secretary, but let me add this to this important discussion we are having this evening.…”