Hot off the transom from the Connecticut senator’s office:
WASHINGTON, DC-Today Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released the following statement in response to the budget plan released by Chairman Paul Ryan:
“I thank Chairman Ryan for having the courage not just to talk frankly about the danger America’s national debt poses to the American people but also to propose a comprehensive program to cut the national debt. One does not have to agree with all or most of Chairman Ryan’s proposals to be able to applaud his serious commitment to reduce the debt that threatens our nation’s future. I look forward to reading and studying Paul’s proposals. I hope it will begin an open and honest national conversation about exactly what we can do together to bring our government’s books into balance. More of us in Congress from both sides of the aisle need to step forward to embrace comprehensive solutions to address this problem. Now is not the time for half-measures or politics as usual, and Chairman Ryan has recognized this reality by offering his plan. Let us now work together to forge and pass bi-partisan legislation that puts our country on a course to restore fiscal responsibility and places entitlement programs on a sound financial footing.”
The key bit is where Lieberman acknowledges that you don’t have to agree with Ryan’s budget to acknowledge it’s a serious attempt to solve our fiscal problems. If that’s the way the debate is framed, Democrats are going to have a hard time fighting back unless they come up with serious (and likely painful) entitlement solutions of their own.
