Kent Conrad: “I do believe there are important priorities here in energy, reducing our dependence on foreign energy.”

We admire that, and I can say on both sides of the aisle, people recognize the job he did as Budget Committee Chairman.

If we are going to make this whole system solvent, it is going to take everybody to give a little bit.

We also increase the payroll tax very modestly, from the current combined rate of 12.4 percent to 13.4 percent over 10 years.

The one thing I know for sure is that what is happening now is not working.