Don Nickles: “This is more fiscally responsible than any appropriations bills we have passed in the last many years. I compliment the…”

“This is more fiscally responsible than any appropriations bills we have passed in the last many years. I compliment the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Chairman Stevens, as well as Senator Frist and all of our colleagues who worked aggressively to contain the growth of these bills. That was not easy. We had a lot of votes. We voted down over half a trillion in additional spending amendments. I compliment my colleagues for showing some fiscal discipline. In order to show fiscal discipline in the future, we have to pass a budget. Last year we did not pass a budget and we did not pass 11 of 13 appropriations bills. I hope this year we will be able to pass a budget; that we will be able to pass it on time; and that it will also allow for us to pass a growth package in addition to a package that would improve and enhance Medicare. Passing a budget makes it possible to do all those things. Without passing a budget we may not do any. We may not get appropriations done; we may not do a growth package; we may not do a prescription drug proposal or a Medicare enhancement proposal.”