Herb Kohl: “I am asking CBO to analyze how much we would have reduced the deficit over the last few years had this simple reform…”

“I am asking CBO to analyze how much we would have reduced the deficit over the last few years had this simple reform been in place. I ask my colleagues to consider this save as you go approach as a real opportunity to bring entitlement spending down the way we are bringing nonentitlement spending down--and to help protect our children's future. This is a good budget for current generations--it cuts spending, keeps taxes down, and holds the deficit steady. It is not a good budget for future generations. Until the budget is balanced, we are passing on our debts to our children. We need to change the way we think about budgeting in Washington. It is not good enough to get through today; we have to save for tomorrow as well. I urge my colleagues to consider changing our rules on entitlements to force us to save as we go, and perhaps we can start using the budget to take care of our children as well as we take care of ourselves.”