Kent Conrad: “I have prepared this chart in order to help me do that in as efficient a way as I can. In this column, we have what…”

“I have prepared this chart in order to help me do that in as efficient a way as I can. In this column, we have what President Bush proposed. The second column is what we proposed in the Democratic alternative. The third column is what the Senate passed. If we look at the top, this is the projected surplus over the next 10 years, and we are all in agreement. The agencies that make these forecasts have told us we can anticipate $5.6 trillion over the next 10 years. I am quick to point out that I would not bet the farm on any 10-year forecast or any 10-year projection. The agency that made this forecast themselves warned us of its uncertainty. They have said very clearly there is only a 10-percent chance that number is going to come true. There is a 45-percent chance that there will be more money, according to them. There is a 45-percent chance there will be less money.”