I thank Senator Hatch. I have enjoyed sharing these thoughts. I will note again that we are looking at a period in history in which our systemic debt problem is greater, I believe, than any time in our history. World War II was serious…

This is true. It is dangerous to our country. We have gone 750 days without passing a budget in the Senate. I do believe if we took a poll of the American people, what percentage would one get if they were asked: Should the Congress of the…

I think the Senator is right. This Senate is filled with remarkable people, but I think our colleagues on the other side are paralyzed, frankly, by the challenge of putting a plan on paper that can actually be examined, the numbers…

There is a danger economically, is there not, and a danger to growth, which we need desperately, if we keep raising taxes.

Well, we cannot even have a discussion if a budget isn't brought up. I just had occasion to meet with the Finance Minister from Canada, and he told me they are bringing their corporate tax rate down to 15 percent or below. We are at 35…

I agree. As a matter of fact, we have heard reports that the Democratic caucus is debating a budget in closed door caucus meetings, and they have done that at least twice. This is now 6 weeks after the committee deadline to bring forward a…

I couldn't agree more. When the President submitted his budget, Mr. Erskine Bowles, whom the President asked to chair the fiscal commission that was supposed to come up with a plan to help us get out of this fix, said the President's…

The budget is fundamentally a plan, a vision for the financial future of America. It is astounding that the party in the majority is not even prepared to say to the American people----

I ask Senator Hatch, for the people who may not understand, it is the chairman's responsibility to call a hearing and to begin a markup, and the minority is not able to call the committee into effect. So we do have to look to the chairman…

One reason it is so important to have an honest, open budget process is that budgets are so easy to manipulate and spend. The President, in proposing a budget sometime ago, said his budget called on America to live within its means and…

Mr. President, the Congressional Budget Act requires that Congress pass a budget by April 15. The Republican House has passed its budget. They stated their financial vision for the future in America. The Democratic Senate, however, has not…