David Axelrod Quotes

I certainly don't want our nation to go into default, but at the same time, I'm very concerned about our ongoing debt problem.

I think we are not serious about attacking the long-term debt problem, and that's one of the things that he's going to have to find a way to get on the agenda.

The reason Congress hasn't balanced the budget is that the sky hasn't fallen lately.

Arizona faces many challenges ahead. None is more important or more pressing than passing a new state budget.

You remember had this gigantic clock in the arena showing the size of the national debt. And Paul told America, if you elect Republicans, we can fix that. But, if Paul Ryan was being honest, he would've pointed to the debt clock and said, we built that.

I think growing an economy is a good way to help with a deficit, but ultimately, it's about fiscal discipline and responsible spending - and smart decisions.

Look, I am not worried about Washington cutting too much spending too fast. I mean, the kinds of spending cuts we're talking about just right now are $100 billion out of a $3.7 trillion budget.

I think that when we look out with our underfunded liabilities and our national debt over $14 trillion, I think if we are part of that movement to get our government spending under control, I think that would be a tremendous legacy to leave.

If we don't change the way Washington operates we're going to bankrupt our children and grandchildren.

I've criticized Republicans for their lack of fiscal discipline when they controlled Congress before 2007. However, that is no excuse to just continue with more of the same or, as the case is now, to make it worse. Under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's budget, we will double the national debt in five years and triple it in 10.

It is admitted on all sides that we must equalize the revenue and expenditures. The scheme of borrowing to make up an increasing deficit must, in the end, if continued, prove ruinous.

We have built a government so large and so expensive here in Washington that not even the richest economy in the history of mankind can afford it. That's how big it's gotten.

Only when the budget has been balanced and a substantial amount set aside for debt retirement, should we consider tax reduction.

We must get rid of deficit spending which finances the political schemes of today by mortgaging the future of tomorrow.

Let’s make this the year where we are either going to get rid of the deficit or get rid of the idea that we are going to get rid of the deficit..

We still have a major problem in debt with America that we have to find efficiencies in government to get us back to a balanced budget.

We can't continue to tax, borrow, and spend at the rates that we are, and it's just got to be stopped.

Ultimately, we can't just keep doubling our national debt every eight years. We have got to get that under control and not spend more than we bring in.

This country doesn't have a revenue problem - it has a spending problem.

You cannot have a society where you spend more than you earn. I mean, it's just fundamentally not viable in the long run.

Not in the constitution, but I would propose a law to the French parliament that provides for reducing the budget deficit year by year, until we have reached a balanced budget by 2017.

I'm coming to Washington, D.C., to do the people's work. And the people's work has to do with reducing spending and cutting budgets and, and trying to get a grip on the size of government.

The President didn't offer any clarity in his latest speech about what he would do to tackle our nation's debt before it tackles us and it's still not clear how he'll keep Medicare from going bankrupt. One thing is clear though, Barack Obama isn't interested in governing or putting forward solutions to fix our nation's problems.

We can have tax cuts, but when we have tax cuts and do not have a surplus, the amount of the tax cut goes straight to the bottom line, adds to the deficit, and the deficit adds to the national debt, and sooner or later, the debt has to be paid.

We are not jumping on the austerity bandwagon. A healthy economy is by far the most important thing for Social Democrats.