Kay Bailey Hutchison: “the question I fear most as a Senator is not a question from a news reporter, it is not a question from a constituent…”

“the question I fear most as a Senator is not a question from a news reporter, it is not a question from a constituent visiting my office, it is not a question from a constituent at home; it is the question that I fear my grandchildren will ask me, and it is this. "If you were a Senator back then, why didn't you do something? Why didn't you balance our budget, so my family would be able to have jobs and afford an education?" Mr. President, that is the question I fear the most. A great-grandparent, born in 1900, paid about 24 percent of the family income in Federal, State, and local taxes. That is after the benefits were taken out. A 26-year-old mother today, who may be working in an office or raising her children at home, will pay at least 34 percent of the family income in taxes after benefits. That is already one of the highest levels in our country's history. But if we do not change our ways, the real bad news comes for her children. Her young baby will pay 84 percent of lifetime income in taxes if we do not balance the budget in this country. That is what it will take to continue our current policies for Government spending. Our grandchildren cannot support such a burden of spending, debt and interest. At 84 percent, they will not be able to find jobs at all, much less pay their bills. I do not ever want to be asked why I did not change the course of this country. I did not come to Washington to support the status quo.”