Dan Coats: “I think that is an unfortunate development because, clearly, there is bipartisan support for that effort. Members of…”

“I think that is an unfortunate development because, clearly, there is bipartisan support for that effort. Members of both the Republican and Democrat Parties are on record and have made public statements saying that they believe this effort ought to go forward, whether it is an effort undertaken by a commission, or whether it is something that we engage in ourselves or ask the executive branch to do by Executive order. Clearly, we are faced with a situation where we have to step forward, to lead, to address one of the most fundamental of all structural reforms necessary to curb the unchecked growth of entitlements. Beginning with his State of the Union Address, the President has been telling the Congress and the American public of his desire to sit down and work out a solution to the coming entitlement crisis, and we have responded on our side by saying that we are willing to do this.”