J. Exon: “I am proposing the President's 7-year, CBO certified balanced budget as a substitute to the Republican budget that is…”

“I am proposing the President's 7-year, CBO certified balanced budget as a substitute to the Republican budget that is now before the Senate. Let us turn back the clock to a year ago. That is when my Republican colleagues pulled our leg on the Senate floor. The Republicans offered the President's budget recommendation as a substitute for their own amendment. They offered that as a substitute resolution. As a result of that, they had a good laugh at our expense as the amendment was voted down 99 to 0, with this Senator, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, voting with the 99. But what a difference a year makes. It is not only a different year, Mr. President. It is a different budget. And I do not think my colleagues on the other side would be smirking if they did the same thing this year as they did last year, but, of course, there is no indication that they will do that. This President's balanced budget is real in every sense of the word, and it is certified to be in balance by the Congressional Budget Office.”