On the recordMarch 29, 2012
Today I rise in opposition to the budget offered by my colleague, Mr. Van Hollen. Then-Senator Obama, when campaigning for President, called President Bush unpatriotic for raising our national debt by $4 trillion in 8 years, a figure he has surpassed in less than 4 years. When then-Senator Obama voted against a debt limit increase he said, Leadership means the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today on to the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I agree with Senator Obama. If he believes this type of leadership was a failure and unpatriotic, then certainly so too should he think that about his budget and this budget here, for this budget would leave the U.S. with nearly $25 trillion of debt by the end of 2022, despite a massive tax increase of $1.7 trillion. And despite the increase, this budget does not balance within the next 10 years, the next 20 years, and not even in 75 years. We can't wait. We can't wait, Mr. Chairman. We can't wait to balance the budget for 75 years. Now more than ever, America needs leadership. As Senator Obama said, we cannot put the failures of today on the backs of the next generation. I agree, Senator Obama. So I reject this budget for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
