On the recordDecember 21, 2010
the situation we find ourself in is that no appropriations bills came to the floor. We did not control that. If that had been under our control, I assure you they would have come to the floor--and they should. No matter who is in charge, they should come. I think he agrees with that. But I will address the greater issue we have in front of us. Our Nation has a very short time with which to reassess and reprioritize what is important in our fiscal matters. That period of time, I believe, is shorter than many of my colleagues believe. But I have not been wrong in the past 6 years as to where we are coming. I have been saying it for 6 years. We are now there. The fact is everything is going to have to be looked at--everything-- every project, for every Senator, every position, every program--if we are to solve the major problems that are facing this country. We all want to help everybody we can, but the one thing that has to be borne in mind as we try to help within the framework of our supposed limited powers is there has to be a future for the country.
