Jim Nussle: “Mr. Speaker, this is an opportunity to vote for either excuses or opportunities. That is what we are faced with here…”

“Mr. Speaker, this is an opportunity to vote for either excuses or opportunities. That is what we are faced with here today. First the excuses: ``we cannot,'' ``we should not,'' ``it will not work.'' Those are the excuses. The excuses have been going on for years why we cannot return the tax surplus to the American people. First is do not have a tax cut until we balance the budget. We balanced the budget. Then it was do not cut taxes until we have saved Social Security. We have saved all of Social Security. Then it was do not cut taxes until the Medicare trust fund is set aside. We set aside the Medicare trust fund. There was still money left over, but they said do not do it until you significantly increase spending. We increased spending for important priorities. They say do not cut taxes because it is the wrong time. Then it was the wrong way. Then it was the wrong process. Then they said it was too big. Today there has even been Members who have come to the floor and have suggested that the tax cut will not work because it is too small. Now, look, we have all heard the story about the three bears and the excuses. The excuses stop today with a budget that provides for opportunities: the fifth balanced budget in a row, maximum debt relief of $2.4 trillion, saves Social Security, provides for a Medicare surplus for modernization, budgets for Americans priorities at 4 percent for education, 11.5 percent increase.…”