Patty Murray: “Mr. President, I can really think of only one word to describe the budget now before the Senate. In the middle of a war…”

“Mr. President, I can really think of only one word to describe the budget now before the Senate. In the middle of a war on terrorism--and on the eve of a war in Iraq--this budget offers a huge tax cut to the few, projects massive deficits for decades, and ignores the cost of war in Iraq. There is only one word for that approach: reckless. Lacking in caution--reckless. Deliberately courting danger--reckless again. It is time for a reality check. Hundreds of thousands of our soldiers are poised on the knife's edge, ready to perform their duty at any moment. On this critical day, we hope and pray for their safety, security, and speedy return. There is no doubt that Congress will provide for our soldiers, both on and off the field of battle. We know it will cost a lot of money. We know the money is well spent in keeping our Nation's best and brightest as secure and safe as possible. But the cost of winning this war and winning the peace afterward is not reflected anywhere in this budget. That is irresponsible. That is burying our heads in the sand as the danger approaches. I cannot imagine any American family going out and running up their credit cards when they know they are going to have a major expense in the next months. Ignoring the financial costs of war will not make those costs go away.”