Press Conference With Representative John Boehner And Senator Mitch McConnell
Press Conference
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REP. BOEHNER: Hi. Good morning, everyone. We had a joint meeting of the House and Senate conference to talk about the moment that we find ourselves in.
The budget that we have before the Congress spends too much; it taxes too much; and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids. Short term, this will hurt our economy and hurt jobs. In the long term, the consequences of this budget will be more grave for our children and grandchildren, tripling -- us into unsustainable debt that'll be on their backs. And I think it's unconscionable for us to deal with the challenges that we're dealing with by doing nothing more than mortgaging the future for our kids and our grandkids.
You know, the greatest generation is called the greatest generation because it met the challenge that America faced. It was willing to make the sacrifices for our country so that our country could enjoy the blessings of liberty. This budget puts all the sacrifice not on this generation but on our kids and our grandkids.
Republicans in the House will offer a better solution, a better solution that'll be less in -- on spending, less on taxes and a lot less on debt for our kids and grandkids.
Senator McConnell?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone. What we are facing here is a mountain of debt. The Democratic budget will double the national debt in five years and triple it in 10. Looking at it another way, they will accumulate more debt than all of the presidents from George Washington up to and through George W. Bush.
This is indeed an explosion of taxation and debt and spending. And as Leader Boehner has indicated, obviously this will have to be paid for by our children. Every American generation, from the very beginning right up till the present, has always felt that it could, and in fact did, leave the country in better shape for its children than it was for themselves. If this budget passes, that American dream is in serious doubt. That's why you see Senate and House Republicans behind us in virtual unity in opposition to this plan which spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.
STAFF: Questions.
Q (Off mike.)
SEN. MCCONNELL: Mr. Ryan will outline the Republican budget at 10:30 this morning and, yes, we do have it.
Q Could you comment on the House election in upstate New York where the Democrat is slightly ahead? Is your message really resonating up there?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Listen, we -- we are involved in a special election in New York. It certainly went well last night. Given the turnout, given the fact that it's a Democrat-held seat, we're in a virtual dead heat with some six (thousand) or 7,000 ballots yet to count. And when all the ballots are counted, I'll be proud to escort Jim Tedesco down the center aisle of the House to be sworn in as our newest member.
STAFF: Thank you.
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