Political Quotes

“how many times have each of us heard from the people we represent, ``Why can't you guys just get together in Washington and balance the budget?'' I have heard it scores of times. Of course, there is nothing easy about getting together to balance the budget. That budget reflects innumerable spending priorities. There is wide difference of opinion between the parties in terms of some of those priorities. That budget contemplates the entire Tax Code of this country. Of course there is broad disagreement within this Chamber among Members in terms of how the Tax Code ought to be structured. So there is nothing easy about getting together to balance the budget. But on the other hand, the facts surrounding our tackling this task this year have made it, if not now, never. Four years ago, nearly $300 billion deficit; this year looking at a deficit in the range of $68 billion. We are almost there, just that final push required. And so I salute the budget chairman in the House, budget chairman in the Senate, commitment of majority leadership in the Congress working with the President to reach this balanced budget reflecting agreements worked out between the parties, between the philosophies, on how to bridge the gap and finally get the job done. As has been mentioned before, no agreement is perfect. I certainly would have written this differently.”