Byron Dorgan: “Those who watch this process need to understand we are serious about what we are doing here, that what we do will lead…”

“Those who watch this process need to understand we are serious about what we are doing here, that what we do will lead to some kind of economic stability in the future. They count on it, that we are not going to spend money we don't have. We are not going to burden our kids with debt. We are going to try to have some means to pay for that which we do and, yes, that includes paying for the costs of military action and supporting our troops. I support this Conrad amendment because I think it puts national security and economic security first. I support this amendment because I support the troops, and I support this amendment because I support efforts to increase homeland security in this country. I support this amendment because I believe our economy needs a boost. All of those, in my judgment, will be the fruits of this amendment. I regret that we have the budget resolution on the floor that came from the Budget Committee. It has completely taken a vacation from reality. There is no way it adds up. You can explain it until you are blue in the face, it doesn't add up, and it is not going to lead to a better and brighter economic future. I want a fiscal policy, as does my colleague, I believe, a fiscal policy that expands this country's economy. First, we need to jump-start it and then we need to try to find ways to give people confidence to expand it. Our economy is all about confidence.…”