Angus King

I would argue, for example, that the GI bill is one of the most cost-effective programs in history, but the results did not come in for some years.

How do we deal with the $18 trillion debt? I mean, balancing the budget would be nice, but we have still got an $18 trillion debt.

I was amazed when I got here that somehow, when you get inside the Beltway, the law of net present value does not apply.

If you vote for the expenditures, you ought to be at the same time voting for an extension of the debt ceiling.

PAYGO I think did work, largely, in the 1990s.

We are spending all of our time on really one-fourth of the Federal budget.

I think he has outlined the problem magnificently and dismally. It is not a happy picture.

The workforce is a big concern to me, and I think you are going to see potential other Government breakdowns unless there is proper attention to this over the next 5 to 10 years in particular.

I think we shortchange this whole process by saying, well, we are going to reduce the size of the Federal Government.

Unless we deal with the underlying growth of the cost of health care, that is going to eat us up.

If we just collected the taxes owed, we would almost eliminate the current deficit.

But I would also point out that there is another deficit that is not shown on this chart, which is the infrastructure deficit.

It seems to me that that would be a reform that would clarify the accounting.

I think this is so important, and we have got to continue to talk about this.

I believe that a lot of it is the individuals that are in the seats and whether they are inclined to try to work things out.

A lot of it comes down to people.

You are straining at gnats and swallowing camels.

The tax expenditures now exceed the actual tax revenues.

I suspect you would see that there is a direct correlation between partisanship and low esteem.

I would hate to see it turn into a pure leadership device, but leadership representation would be a very interesting idea.

We need to work to try to get them back into compliance with it.

It appears that the Russians violated the INF Treaty. Is the INF Treaty still in our best interests?

I would argue, taking off from that point, is that the development of the new standoff cruise missile isn't new.

Mr. Chairman, may I follow up with one additional question?

I'm glad to know that work is ongoing, and I hope it has a sense of urgency.