Jay Rockefeller: “I think our country ought to be very happy about the fact that we have a balanced budget. It really was extraordinary…”

“I think our country ought to be very happy about the fact that we have a balanced budget. It really was extraordinary, $357 billion down to $10 billion. We will present a balanced budget to the President for the first time in 30 years. That is an extraordinary accomplishment. We all share in that. The Democrats probably get the lion's share of the credit for the 1993 part, but the Republicans and Democrats did it together last year and, therefore, sealed what is a remarkable accomplishment in being fiscally prudent--and I think surprising, in a good way, the American people. I think that is probably a good thing because the markets rallied by our action. The markets are now troubled because of what is happening in Asia, and our President last night held out challenges to us on that matter, too, very boldly and I thought very correctly. The point is we really have to go forward.”