Charles W. Stenholm: “Mr. Chairman, the caps are right. The budget we will consider next recognizes the gimmicks in the budget that we are…”

“Mr. Chairman, the caps are right. The budget we will consider next recognizes the gimmicks in the budget that we are considering at the base bill. The reason my colleagues can claim all of the things that they claim regarding debt is they are back end loading. They are in fact double counting in areas in which many of them who have been speaking do not truly appreciate what their committee has done. They are back end loading. It is true when we talk about Social Security and our tax cuts, it is true, ours are puny compared to theirs. The problem is that theirs explodes in 2014 when the Social Security drain will become real. When the baby boomers become retirees and begin drawing Social Security, that is when their tax cut will become a problem that the Blue Dogs wish to avoid. I wish they would recognize that. We have been criticized for too much spending, but at the same time folks on this side have said we agree with your military spending. We agree with your defense spending. We agree with your spending for veterans. They cannot have it both ways. Ours is the most responsible.”