Eva M. Clayton: “Mr. Speaker, the Republicans demanded a 7-year budget. The President has given them a 7-year budget. The Republicans…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Republicans demanded a 7-year budget. The President has given them a 7-year budget. The Republicans demanded that any budget plan that is adopted be approved by the Congressional Budget Office using their numbers. Again, the President has agreed to that. The Republicans further insisted that there be a large tax cut as a part of their budget plan. Again, the President has offered a smaller tax cut but for working families. Mr. Speaker, the President has gone a considerable distance to meet the demands of the Republican Party, and yet they continue those same arguments. What is their argument, then, if he has done those essential things that they say they wanted? Why not move on, as one of my colleagues suggested, to the farm bill? I can tell my colleagues that farmers in my State are uncertain as to what their future will hold. Democrats are simply insisting that the budget we pass hold fast to the principle that made this Nation strong; principles that Republicans and Democrats should indeed support. Democrats want to safeguard health care for seniors, for children, for poor families; to promote education for our future and to protect our environment.”