the case for austerity in a time of economic weakness is simply wrong.

We should be investing more in our children, but sequestration right now is really taking us in the wrong direction.

what we have seen recently from a minority of extreme Republicans is really deeply disappointing and harmful.

So as we continue this debate, I encourage my Republican colleagues to be open to working with us on tax reform that puts the middle class first and our economic and fiscal strength first.

There has got to be a solution here.

There is bipartisan agreement that sequestration is the wrong way to cut spending.

Regardless of the magnitude of the harm, would a government shutdown, under current circumstances, be harmful to the economy?

The results of this brand-new report confirm everything critics and Republicans were saying about the cost of this bill.

We ought to be committed to investing in our kids, and we ought to be committed to making sure that the investments are done the best possible way.

When the economy is struggling, government should act to make things better for the middle class and most families by investing in jobs and economic growth.

it does not make sense to focus exclusively on slashing programs that help the neediest

I do believe that his policy agenda is not being helpful.

The big tax increases in the bill come nowhere close to covering the even more massive spending.

Debt reduction can be achieved by cutting spending or by raising taxes or by adopting a mix of spending cuts and tax increases.

We need to ensure our students receive an education that offers them the opportunities they deserve.

Our schools need to prepare our workers--of all ages--to compete for 21st century jobs.

It is squarely on the shoulders of Congress.

I do not know of a single Democratic member of the Senate or House who either wants to shut down government or is advocating or threatening a shutdown of government.

I truly hope--truly hope--we can move forward with going to conference and working together.

The House Republican Budget takes a very different approach. It does not simply accept sequestration; it makes it worse.

we ought to make some changes, and that will be beneficial to our country and to, I think, a more rationale set of priorities.

It would be comforting to say that the President and the administration is to blame for this.

I think the Tax Code is a way that protects our citizens from the downsides of that.

The Affordable Care Act has done a number of things very positive.

If we do this the right way--meaning the fair way--tax reform has the potential to make our tax system simpler and more efficient.