we have to look at what can we do--and, of course, we had an excellent hearing here with former Senator Phil Gramm.

the whole purpose of tax reform would be to rationalize our tax system so it incentivizes growth.

I have been tenaciously talking to CEOs, CFOs; they are very intrigued by the idea.

But again, the reality is diplomacy will not work.

I think both of you gentlemen are saying diplomacy is really not going to work. We are going to either have to defend ourselves or we are going to have to put pressure on the elite, create pain for them because, let's face it, this regime…

They are not going to give up their nuclear capability. They are going to continue to improve it, develop it.

Short of military strikes against their nuclear facilities, they are going to continue to develop their nuclear capability.

Just trying to be accurate.

we must begin to utilize our energy resources to the extent we should.

Over the next 30 years, the deficit, according to CBO, will accumulate $103 trillion.

I would want you to work with us on that. I wonder if you would make a commitment to me today to ensure that we find a strong executive director for this council.

The good news for you is the President has set a pretty low bar, only a 75-percent reduction. Actually, I would call that a 'stretch budget.'

If we do not want to pay creditors over the next 30 years, $50 trillion interest on the debt, we have to address Social Security and Medicare.

The regulatory burden is $14,800 per household. That is an enormous burden.

the number one component of the solution is economic growth.

Over the next 30 years, according to the Social Security trustees, Social Security will pay out about $14 trillion more in benefits than it brings in in payroll tax.

If we do not want to pay over the next 30 years $55 trillion to our creditors, we have to address the unsustainable situation.

the overregulation has an enormous cost to our economy.

I think regulatory reform, having a competitive tax system, using energy resources is just crucial.

the regulatory burden is about $14,800 per year per family.

I think that warps the marketplace and puts our purely domestic producers at risk.

On regulatory reform, Senator Heitkamp is right. We have a great opportunity here. And it has been bipartisan, typically.

we do not have a competitive tax system.

It requires accountability, one agency in charge. It requires more transparency, a dashboard where anybody can go online and find out where a project is.

This clearly has to be brought under control if we are ever going to restrain the growth in debt.