I do not see how you could balance the budget in 10 years without increasing revenue.

The specifics that Senator Klobuchar put on the table... should absolutely be part of the agenda.

As Senator Gregg said, we are one good debt deal away from a great period--another great period of American prosperity.

I reject the notion that the bureaucrats in Washington can tell providers how to care for patients.

I will look forward to that, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to follow up on his question, because you didn't answer it.

Absolutely, Congressman, and it would be, in that context, disastrous if you were either not to extend the debt ceiling...

Healthcare costs, Congressman, it is the failure to control healthcare costs, as just discussed.

The President was right when he spoke of the reckless fiscal policies at the moment.

Job creation is going to be impacted negatively by the uncertainty around fiscal policy, particularly any discussion of the debt ceiling.

You are right, Congressman, but if you have a big fight over the debt ceiling, that is going to push up interest rates and cause exactly the effect you are worried about.

the debt limit helps hold Washington accountable to hardworking taxpayers, who ultimately foot the bill for Washington's spending habits.

I supported larger, stronger strengthening of revenue--not immediately, though. Phasing it in over time is the right way to do it.

You need an economic recovery, Congressman, for everything else that you want to do. And that requires jobs to come back to where they were.

We should pay our bills. That is the number one priority. If we don't pay our bills as a government, we will disrupt the economic recovery and push unemployment higher.

I am totally in favor of dealing with the budget, that is the point of the book we wrote called 'White House Burning,' a dramatic enough title I hope, but the point is you need a balanced approach.

Absolutely. The most obvious risk we face is that we will, through our own deliberate irresponsibility, undermine the safe haven status of the United States.

It is not a good idea, and it is not the way fiscal policy was run not just since World War I.

No, sir, not over the long term, Congressman.

Well, I ask the question, how much time do we really have?

I urge you maybe to initiate a process of long-lasting fundamental reforms to American disability policies and programs.

the fifth hearing in the series entitled 'Securing the Future of the Disability Insurance (DI) Program.'

We must and we will secure the future of this essential program for the millions of Americans who count on benefits. As we look at options to keep that promise, we must balance the needs of those with disabilities with the needs of workers…

It is neat to see people who are in that situation accomplishing something with their lives. It really is.

We have got to fix it. That is just one more program we have to fix in this government.