Tom Harkin: “I said earlier this week when we came in on Monday that every day I would come to the floor--and other Senators I know…”

“I said earlier this week when we came in on Monday that every day I would come to the floor--and other Senators I know are coming to the floor--to let the American people know what Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan are trying to hide from them. What they are trying to hide is what their blueprint is for America, where they want to take the country. People listen to all of their speeches on the campaign trail, but show me your budget and I will show you what your priorities are. A budget is a blueprint, and we have from Mr. Ryan, our colleague in the House, his budget. I think, if I am not mistaken, it has been passed twice in the House and I think almost every Republican voted for it; the same as here in the Senate. So if Mr. Ryan and Mr. Romney were to be elected to the Presidency and Vice Presidency, they would then be able to move their budget through under a little-known procedure called reconciliation. It is a fancy word, but all it means is that it would go through with 51 votes. I think it is important for the American people to know what is in that budget, what is in that blueprint for America. That is why this week I have taken the time to talk about the impact of the budget on health care and on education. Today I wish to talk about the impact of this budget on where I live--rural America, in the Midwest, where the occupant of the Chair lives.…”