I thank the gentleman for his comment. Given that response, can I ask the gentleman: Would he expect there to be an open rule with reference to that bill?

I want to thank the gentleman for informing us of the schedule for the week to come. I want to thank, at the outset, not only the gentleman but the Speaker as well for the respect and consideration they have given during this current…

I thank the gentleman. It's my understanding, from the gentleman's response, that if in the eyes of you or Mr. Boehner or your side of the aisle serious spending cuts have not been effected, that you would oppose the extension of the debt…

So would it be therefore accurate that the ``or less'' is superfluous and is not intended to give Mr. Ryan the authority to set a figure at less than 2008 levels?

I thank the gentleman for that response. And I hate to keep pressing him, but if his hopes are not realized--and I don't know the answer as to whether they will be, but at some point in time we will be confronted with an alternative of…

Good. I appreciate that response. Lastly, I ask my friend, one of the significant issues that will be confronting us in the coming months will be the extension of the debt limit to ensure that America continues to pay the bills that it has…

I thank the gentleman. And let me ask again, does the gentleman intend, once the committees are up and running--I understand in a transition it takes some time-- that the cuts that you are going to propose on a weekly basis will have been…

I understand that, and I thank the gentleman. I know that he has indicated that we are going to be considering what I believe to be a $52 million cut--that's important money--to reach your $100 billion. However, if you do it at that level…

Let me ask the gentleman: Is the gentleman representing to me that this resolution will, in fact, result in 2008 levels of expenditure so that Members, who are being asked to vote on this, will have a certitude of the number on which they…

The point that I am trying to make, and perhaps not as clearly as I need to make it, is that what we are in that resolution giving is to one person--one person--in this Congress the authority, without consideration by this House, to set…

I thank the gentleman for his response. I do not want to be argumentative, but I have just received your amended copy of the resolution, and as I read on your second page, it says ``the remainder of fiscal year 2011 that assumes…

Not only do I recall that as being a fact, I also recall it as an answer that I used to give the gentleman on a regular basis. But I am certainly hopeful, as he was hopeful, given the representations of transparency and openness, that…