David Thomas: “one of the issues we are faced with, which will be most controversial, I suppose--and certainly very important--is that…”

“one of the issues we are faced with, which will be most controversial, I suppose--and certainly very important--is that budget about which the Senator from Massachusetts has been talking. Obviously, there are different views as to how one deals with the budget. It is always that way. There are those who think there is a never-ending demand for more spending and, therefore, more taxes, and that the Federal Government ought to be involved in all of our activities in our lives. There are others who believe there are essential elements the Federal Government should address itself to; they change at different times, of course. So it seems to me, as we take a look at this year's budget and this year's spending and this year's taxes, we have to take a look at the situation we are in and seek to meet the goals of our time. And those goals change from time to time. America faces a unique moment in our history. Our Nation is at war, our homeland is threatened to be attacked, and our economy is in recession. If those are not factors that ought to be taken into account with respect to a budget, I don't know what would be. The President's budget has just come to Congress today, so we do not know a great deal about the details. We will be holding hearings starting tomorrow, and we will know more about it.”