You cannot cut your way to deficit reduction.

I think it's very important not to confuse the importance of dealing with Social Security in the long term with these short-term deficit reduction…

— Anonymous

The federal budget deficit isn't the nation's major economic problem and deficit reduction shouldn't be our major goal. Our problem is lack of good…

— Robert Reich

Until the president produces a responsible deficit reduction plan, I'm not going to the White House to negotiate with myself.

— Jeff Landry

History is replete with examples of moments in time when we talk about deficit reduction and try to advance on it around the world,…

— Tavis Smiley

The Farm Bill is one of the only bills that provides substantial deficit reduction that passed the Senate this year. It only makes sense…

— Debbie Stabenow

Tax rates for the wealthy should revert to Clinton-era levels, both because it is necessary for long-term deficit reduction and because fairness dictates it.…

— Eliot Spitzer

Mr. Obama's choices show how fundamentally unserious he is about deficit reduction and spending restraint.

— Monica Crowley

He [Barack Obama] talked about deficit reduction. This got me he was talking about how the deficit's being reduced faster in the last 60…

— Barack Obama

Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It won't work because it was never designed for that kind of significant legislation;…

— Kent Conrad

Thanks to former President George W. Bush - remember the compassionate conservative? - I have a good name for the fundamental principle that should…

— Christina Romer

Deficit reduction is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Canadians must now decide what kind of country they…

— Jean Chretien

The poor have been sent to the front lines of a federal budget deficit reduction war that few other groups were drafted to fight.

— Marian Wright Edelman

In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit…

— Joe Klein

I don't know how anyone can keep a straight face and say they are for deficit reduction while they insist on a permanent tax…

— Claire McCaskill

When Republicans used reconciliation in 2001 for the Bush tax cuts, they used it to increase the deficit. The whole purpose of reconciliation is…

— Kent Conrad