I'm going to take that as faint praise.

The deficit last year was $1.3 trillion.

When it came to the poorest families in America that child care was a matter of appropriation.

You've been very patient and returned. If you'd like to continue for a couple minutes, please feel free.

Members of Congress, having voted for the appropriation, for the spending, or many of them, then turned around and said, but of course I'm not going to vote to borrow the money to cover what I've just voted for.

Such an amendment, while seemingly a common-sense answer to America's fiscal challenges, would subject Social Security and Medicare to very deep cuts without regard to the impact on the health and financial security of real people.

Would you comment on the notion that has been put forward in a number of these amendments that we should somehow enshrine the question of revenues and taxes...

If we're going to cut the appropriation for child care for those who are of limited means, then that can be done by simple majority.

I simply reject that viewpoint.

Such cuts will have a severe impact on real people.

The Constitution and the American people deserve better than this.

We borrow 40 cents out of every dollar that we spend.

Our approach in Bowles-Simpson and Gang of Six is trust but verify.

My own view is that this is not the way to go, that the balanced budget amendment is a false promise.

When we went into the Bowles-Simpson debate that was one of the first things that everyone agreed on: the Tax Code was not sacred.

So again, every amendment that I think has been taken up with serious consideration has had the capacity for a waiver.

It's a controversial approach but it is certainly one approach that we need to consider.

I have the greatest respect for Senator Carl Levin and Senator John McCain. They have done an extraordinary job on the Defense authorization bill. I would say, by and large, this bill would not have engendered the controversy that brings…

is morning business time still pending? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Yes.

I would like to take a few moments in the Senate to pay tribute to a remarkable woman. Maggie Daley served with dignity and grace for 22 years as Chicago's first lady. She died on Thanksgiving evening after a nearly decade-long struggle…

I will only take a moment to say that we have an opportunity now, before we leave for Christmas, to not forget people across America who are struggling in this economy. A payroll tax cut, instituted by President Obama and supported by…

Across-the-board cut, you're suggesting?

Let's stick with our oath to the Constitution.

I think that's how it should be solved.

I announce that the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Begich) and the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) are necessarily absent.