On the recordMarch 28, 2012
I have the honor tonight of representing the budget that is endorsed by Simpson and Bowles. This is the only bipartisan budget that the House of Representatives will be able to consider in this budget cycle. This is the first time that a Simpson-Bowles budget has been allowed on the floor of the House or the Senate. This is a historic night, and I hope that Members will appreciate this opportunity. This is one of the most partisan weeks in Washington, and this is the only bipartisan way to solve the Nation's problems. This is the only budget that has a chance of getting through both the House and the Senate. I hope Members will appreciate this opportunity. Members have expressed interest, but in this partisan week, we've been hammered by forces on both the left and the right, people who do not want America to solve its problems in a sensible and fair manner. To illustrate what we're doing here, the Wall Street Journal today had a graph of the different budget alternatives. The top line here is assuming current policies. It is clear trouble for the Nation because we're not reducing the deficit. The blue line here is the White House budget, which makes considerable progress in solving our problems. The bottom line here is the GOP plan, which is tough and completely partisan. There's not a single Democrat in the country that will support that. So it's a budget to nowhere. It's a bridge to nowhere.…
