On the recordMarch 20, 2013
I don't have enough time. On your time, I'm happy to, my friend, but I can't do it right now. Let me say another thing, Mr. Chairman, with respect to balance. It's really interesting. One of the reasons the Republican budget that last year came into balance in 2040 and the year before was able to balance this year is that the increase in per capita health care costs has come down significantly, in part because of the Affordable Care Act and the changes in incentives. In fact, if you applied much more reasonable assumptions to our proposals than the Congressional Budget Office applied to the Republican budget last year, you'd get balance. I know our Republican colleagues don't want to hear it. Now our focus and our priority is on dealing with the jobs deficit. That is the best way to reduce the long-term deficit and to do it in a balanced way. I now yield 2 minutes to the very distinguished assistant Democratic leader, my friend from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn).
