Rob Portman: “this budget protects our country, our national defense, and our homeland security. And nothing is more important this…”

“this budget protects our country, our national defense, and our homeland security. And nothing is more important this afternoon, as this is a very critical time in the Persian Gulf. Our troops are committed, and we are committed to them. However, this budget meets another challenge, and that is the challenge of strengthening the American economy and creating new jobs. Promoting growth in this economy and getting people back to work is a top priority of ours, and it is reflected in this budget. That is why it provides for policies that create an economic environment for boosting both long-term and short-term growth. In particular, the budget leaves room for President Bush's jobs and economic growth plan to strengthen the economy by providing an immediate stimulus to help struggling American workers and by laying the groundwork to promote long-term, sustainable growth in our Nation's economy. We do not think it is irresponsible to bolster household finances or encourage consumer spending. We do not think it is irresponsible to promote investment because it leads to job creation, and we do not think it is irresponsible to help the unemployed get back to work. That is what this budget does.”