I believe strongly, it is critically important that we run deficits and add the debt in the short term.

I give the administration high marks for what you have done thus far to avert what I believe would have been a global financial collapse.

the debt right now is threatening our economic recovery in the short term as well as the long term

It helps improve the competitive position of the United States.

I believe this is a defining moment for this Chamber and for this Congress. The question before the body is will we adopt a special process to face up to the debt threat looming over this Nation. We are headed, I say to my colleagues, for…

Mr. President, this debate is about the economic future of the country. This is the headline in Newsweek magazine from December 7, 2009: ``How great powers fall. Steep debt, slow growth, and high spending kill empires--and America could be…

I have no problem with the amendment offered by Senator Baucus. Basically, what it does is creates another 60-vote hurdle to any work the commission would do, and this underlying proposal requires 60 votes. So I do not see the Baucus…

What is this about? This is fundamentally about the economic future of the United States. Newsweek magazine, cover story, December 7: ``How Great Powers Fall.'' ``Steep debt, slow growth, and high spending kill empires.'' Colleagues, is…

I do not see that the Baucus amendment does fundamental damage to the amendment that follows, and to put up another 60-vote hurdle to protect Social Security is not an unreasonable request by the Senator from Montana, the chairman of the…

In addition, we have done everything we can, Senator Gregg and I, to ensure a bipartisan outcome. Fourteen of the 18 task force members must agree to the recommendations. Final passage requires supermajorities in both the House and Senate…

Tomorrow we are going to vote on the question of whether we establish a bipartisan debt commission, a commission empowered to come up with a plan, a plan if 14 of the 18 Members would agree, would come to the Senate for a vote. This story…

I have come to the floor to discuss an amendment I am offering with Senator Gregg to create a bipartisan fiscal task force. The task force would be designed to develop a bipartisan legislative package to address the Nation's long-term…