Byron Dorgan: “We have many needs and many priorities, one of which is, yes, let's provide a tax cut. Let's make it fairer. Second…”

“We have many needs and many priorities, one of which is, yes, let's provide a tax cut. Let's make it fairer. Second, let's not have a 10-year tax cut locked in so that we put this country's economy at risk and throw us back into Federal deficits. Third, let's also pay down the Federal debt while we have some surpluses. What better gift to our children than paying down the Federal indebtedness we ran up during tougher times. Fourth, let's not provide a tax cut that is so large, the bulk of it will go to the upper income people, in a way that would prohibit us from having the resources we need for education, health care, and other areas that we know need additional investment in this country. Those ought to be our priorities. I say to the new President, I am interested in working with him and others. Having an aggressive, good debate about fiscal policy is not personal, and it shall never become personal. We have different ideas about the priorities in this country. We need to debate that in the coming months. I intend to talk about that because I believe so strongly that we ought to do all of the things I have described in order to give us an economy that will continue to grow, prosper, and provide opportunities for all Americans.”