We have a very short window of opportunity to make real changes in advance of when the real fiscal storm hits, and we're continuing to make things worse instead of better.

To craft a full package of offsets, everything should be on the table.

After the Democrats' obstructionist approach to Social Security reform, it is more difficult for them to claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility.

The fact that the overall effect of reconciliation taken together was to enlarge rather than reduce the deficit undermines the credibility of anyone claiming that this was a deficit-reduction package.

What's somewhat surprising is that you hear people talking about holding off on spending cuts.

The growth in spending is significantly lower than what we've seen in past years, and clearly the president, who is responding to pressure in his own party, wanted to show he was serious about putting forward a budget that was tight on spending.

There is a window where nobody will be willing to say 'no' to anything as long as it has a Katrina label on it.

Next year's budget has already been derailed and the new fiscal year hasn't even begun.