On the recordFebruary 4, 2013
I come to the Senate floor today, as I have virtually every day since we have been back in session, to address what is perhaps the most critical question facing this Nation: how to rein in the out-of-control Federal spending that threatens to bankrupt the country and saddle future generations with a burden of debt that will dramatically reduce the quality of their lives. Yesterday morning on ABC's ``This Week with George Stephanopoulos,'' Senate Majority Leader Reid claimed: ``The American people need to understand that it's not as if we've done nothing for the debt.'' I would argue that the American people do understand, but what they disagree with is the majority leader's statement that we have done something to reduce the debt we are accumulating at a record rate. We all know we are spending nearly $40,000 of taxpayer money per second. We know it has now been 1,377 days since we passed a budget in the Senate or one has even been offered by the Democratic leadership. Our debt continues to accumulate and now stands at nearly $16.5 trillion, and anybody who looks at the debt clock sees that the numbers are rotating faster than the eye can see. So, no, I don't agree. I don't think we have done much to address our debt. And rather than recognize the real problem of our debt, which is spending, the majority leader talked about the need for yet more taxes and higher revenues.…
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