Political Quotes

“I would say to my colleague from Kentucky, I think the rhetorical device that he is using at the end of each speaker is very effective and it is persuasive. But I would challenge him with this: I think one of the things that we have got to struggle with as a body, both Republicans and Democrats alike, is not being selective on the issue of the deficits. What we can't say is deficits are okay if it involves more spending for all of us as a body to distribute as we see fit, but deficits are not okay if they involve a tax cut and sending money back to individuals within each of our communities. It is for that reason, again, I have voiced my concerns with regard to some of the components of this budget. But I think that the big issue for me is, simply, we cannot continue to spend as we are and have the ship of America sail forward. It was Erskine Bowles who was the Democratic Chief of Staff to former President Clinton who observed: ``We are walking our way toward the most predictable financial crisis in the history of man if we don't get our arms around spending.'' So, for me, while not perfect--and I certainly cede that point--I think the building blocks of what this budget is trying to get toward is a sustainable economy. How do you have a sustainable economy? Many of the things that my Democratic colleagues have talked about in terms of education, workforce development, those things. But it is also about the foundation of: Is our spending sustainable?…”