John Spratt: “For the clarification of Members, let me give you my take on what is before us right now. This motion to instruct…”

“For the clarification of Members, let me give you my take on what is before us right now. This motion to instruct conferees calls for us to recede, back off the revenue levels in the House amendment and insist on, listen to this, policy statement in section 401 of the House amendment. That is our budget resolution, the Democratic budget resolution. It is the place in our resolution where one time we have insisted, pledged our support for the extension of these middle-income tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003. That is paragraph A. It is hard for us to disagree with the enforcement of the language that we put in the budget resolution in the first place. Secondly, paragraph B, insist on the lowest possible levels of revenue within the scope of the conference. It is hard to tell what that level might be, whether or not it is consistent with the one above, but we certainly will give some consideration to that. And finally, set forth a unified surplus of at least $96 billion in fiscal year 2012. I hope we can do it, but you have heard me go through the arithmetic out here, and I think it is a reach to even imply that these three variables can be integrated and solved in this one multi varied equation. If you can do it, fine. If you can come out of all this still having these tax cuts and still having a $96 billion surplus, great. But I have to tell you, I think it is fuzzy math. But we are wholeheartedly in support of the middle-income tax cuts that are enumerated here.”