On the recordMarch 31, 2011
we are continuing to work very hard to avoid the terrible consequences that would come with a government shutdown. As Vice President Biden announced last night after a 1\1/2\-hour meeting we had in his office just a few feet from where I speak, the Democrats and Republicans have agreed upon a number on which to base our budget cuts. That number is $73 billion below the President's budget proposal. Now we have to get to that $73 billion number. As I said all along, this is not just about dollars and deficits; it is about principles and priorities. What we cut is much more important than how much we cut. The media is very concerned with which party will win this fight politically. I am much more concerned with making sure the American people do not lose out on this program we are doing. We have to make sure the cuts do not damage the basic fiber of our country. Let me once again remind the Senate that children, students, teachers, nurses, and seniors would be significantly hurt by the cuts in the Republican-passed H.R. 1. The tea party is here today. They are here demonstrating that H.R. 1 should be followed--$100 billion-- damaging children, students, teachers, nurses, seniors, and many other people in this country. H.R. 1 is not a piece of legislation of which anyone should be proud. Not a single child, not a single student, not a single teacher, not a single nurse, not a single police officer, not a single senior led us into this recession--not one.…





