Chuck Grassley: “I start by congratulating the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Nickles, on his fine work. One of the reasons…”

“I start by congratulating the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Nickles, on his fine work. One of the reasons for the problems of last session was the absence, for the first time in a generation, of a budget resolution. Chairman Nickles has carried the President's budget to the floor and been a loyal lieutenant for our Commander in Chief. It looks as if much of the President's budget may remain intact, but it is also true that the budget will change somewhat. Let me make it clear. I support the President's budget, including the tax cut number and the growth package. I believe we need a bold response to the flagging economy. It is our obligation to the folks that sent us here. We need to respond. Both sides agree on that need, as do the centrists, led by Senators Breaux and Snowe. Where the Democratic caucus, the Republican caucus, and the centrists differ is on the number we allocate for growth proposals. The debate we have this afternoon is about that number. Really, though, the debate is about whether we should be bold, cautious, or timid. The President and most of the Republican caucus want to be bold. We want American businesses, small and large, to grow. We want every American who wants a job to be able to get a job. We don't want to take any chances. The Democratic leadership's proposed growth package yields a net tax increase of $11.7 billion. That package also contains new spending of $118.7 billion.…”