Political Quotes

“Mr. President, yesterday, I was on the Senate floor talking about this piece of legislation that is now pending before the Senate, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this week. I am a sponsor and supporter of cut, cap, and balance and believe it is a path toward responsibility that we need to demonstrate in the Senate, in the Congress, and here in America. It seems to me it certainly is irresponsible not to raise the debt ceiling, but it is equally or more irresponsible not to raise the debt ceiling without making adjustments in the way we do business in Washington, DC. Clearly, cutting spending is a component of that, capping spending is a portion of our national economy, returning it to the days, just a few years ago, in which we were spending ``only'' 18-- I say ``only'' in quotes, perhaps--``only'' 18 percent of our gross national product by the Federal Government. Unfortunately, in the last few years that 18 percent has grown to 24.2 percent. So reducing some spending, capping that spending in the intermediate future, so it does not exceed a certain portion of the national economy, and, finally, passing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution seems to me to be a reasonable, rational approach to solving the problems we face. I also indicated yesterday that in my view there is a fourth component. It is cut, cap, balance, and grow. I do not want us to forget the importance of a growing economy.…”