"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."
"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."
"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."
"The Administration is aware of the fact that this is the law. And until we change it, it is potential."
"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."
"It definitely needs to be avoided."
"It is our policy to stop them from getting a nuclear weapon and to put all options on the table, including the option of military action if that is necessary."
"The difficulty, of course, is that the military option is costly and risky, and there is not even a guarantee that it would necessarily stop Iran from developing the nuclear weapon."
"I think, frankly, looking back, it was a mistake for Congress to give the authorization to President Bush about the Iraq war so early in the debate."
"I think the President needs quite a bit of leeway on this, but with extensive oversight by Congress."