Byron Dorgan: “I find much with which to agree with virtually all of my colleagues. My friend from Arizona just described the serious…”

“I find much with which to agree with virtually all of my colleagues. My friend from Arizona just described the serious fiscal policy problem. He says we are spending more money. It is true that spending is up substantially. The President has recommended very large spending increases for the military budget, very large spending increases for homeland security, very substantial cuts in revenue. We have a fiscal policy that does not add up. There is no question about that. It starts with the President's fiscal policy and begins and ends as well with the Congress. But we have to have a fiscal policy that adds up. Our economy is dependent on energy. If we don't put in place an energy policy that addresses our concerns about energy and the need for this economy to be satisfied with the energy that is required, we won't have an economy that produces revenue and jobs. If, God forbid, tomorrow night a terrorist interrupted the supply of foreign oil, our economy would be flat on its back. Fifty-five percent of that which we use, in terms of oil resources, comes from outside our borders.”