If that's the status quo, then I suggest to the gentleman he is not going to get to $100 billion, which he represented and his side represents they want to get to. We will see whether or not they are prepared to do that. But I will tell my…

I thank the gentleman for his comments. I ask the gentleman, might I advise the leader on the other side of the Capitol that there is, in fact, a willingness on your side to compromise between zero and 100? I yield to the gentleman.

I thank the gentleman for explaining my proposition, but if I might clarify a little more, what the gentleman has said, the way you get to $100 billion is counting that $41 billion that you say is the status quo and adding $60 billion, or…

And H.R. 1, as I understand it, is scored at $102 billion or thereabouts; is that accurate?

I thank the gentleman for his response. I might want to pursue that response just a little bit, however. The Pledge to America, as I understand it, said that you were going to cut $100 billion; is that accurate?

I thank the gentleman for that information. He mentions that we will be considering some bills under suspension, as is normal, and two bills, H.R. 836 and H.R. 830, presumably under a rule. I ask the gentleman, will those be open rules…

I thank the gentleman. The current CR, as the gentleman knows, expires March 18 that we passed earlier this week, the Senate passed, the President has now signed. Can I ask the gentleman his thoughts on going forward what we might be…

I thank the gentleman. Let me say to the gentleman in terms of a constructive discussion that we might have, and I happen to believe that the preprinting requirement is a positive requirement in that it gives notice to people. One of the…

I thank the gentleman. Can I inquire is an open process, is that somewhat of a nuance of an open rule?

First I want to congratulate the gentleman from North Carolina for the remarks he just made. He is a Republican and I am a Democrat, but I will tell you this: We are friends, and we work together. And he is one of the most conscientious…

Rather than passing 2-week continuing resolutions, I urge Republicans and Democrats to work together on a long-term solution--in this case, ``long term'' is 7 months--to reduce spending, to try to balance our budget, and to try to bring…

Let me tell my friend what he didn't mention: One of the reasons we did it was that we couldn't get 60 votes in the United States Senate in order to move a bill forward. Keeping our government running is vital to our economy. None of us…