The Administration is aware of the fact that this is the law. And until we change it, it is potential.

If we are truly, truly committed to providing for the men and women who serve us and providing for our national security, then we absolutely have to be willing to raise the revenue to pay for that.

Those numbers don't add up.

It was only that sort of blind notion that somehow not raising the debt ceiling was a solution to our fiscal problems that forced us into this awful, awful decision.

We must ensure that our military remains the strongest in the world, regardless of budget constraints.

It is, you know, a sort of mindless across-the-board cut in all discretionary spending. So education, transportation, infrastructure, on down the line--it would have a devastating impact.

We have a $1.2 trillion deficit, actually 1.3 last year, a 38-percent deficit, and it needs to be addressed.

Government spending matters. You can't just blindly cut it and assume that there is no problem.

Let me tell you, that attitude that you expressed right there is the number one biggest problem in solving the problem, is the notion that you have no responsibility in solving the problem.

We can't hold hostage steps that will do that to the notion that we have to have a balanced budget right now or even in the next 3, 4, 5, 6 years.

I hope this committee can begin to be part of the process of starting a realistic debate that can avoid the truly awful outcome that would come with sequestration.