Lincoln Chafee: “I rise to express my support of the budget resolution we approved today. This was a long and arduous process, but I am…”

“I rise to express my support of the budget resolution we approved today. This was a long and arduous process, but I am pleased that at the end of the day we have a document that both Republicans and Democrats can embrace. I also extend my deep appreciation and admiration to Budget Chairman Domenici for doing his usual outstanding job of overseeing the Senate's consideration of the federal budget. This weeks' debate was about how best to allocate the apparent budget surplus that our nation is beginning to achieve. I appreciate President Bush's leadership in calling for a part of our surplus to be returned to the taxpayers. While all Americans may desire a tax cut, I believe it is also true that all Americans would like Congress to continue its prudent course of balanced budgets. I am concerned that a tax cut of $1.6 trillion over ten years would seriously impair our ability to maintain a balanced budget, while meeting the necessary priorities of debt reduction, infrastructure development, improvement in health and education, and Social Security and Medicare reform. I was pleased to work within the Centrist Coalition, a bipartisan group of Senators, to fashion a compromise tax cut. I am very thankful for the friendship and leadership in particular of Senators John Breaux, Jim Jeffords, and Ben Nelson. I believe that we have helped the Senate come to a compromise, and am proud to have joined a group of such thoughtful and constructive people.”