“For those of us who have been working for some time on bipartisan solutions to the debt, I am encouraged by the President’s budget proposal. It cuts the growth in federal spending, makes targeted investments to strengthen the economy, and it passes the test of fairness by including specific, phased-in reforms to entitlement programs.

His proposals on entitlement reform already have drawn fire from both the left and the right. I happen to believe the President is doing the right thing: he’s putting everything on the table.

Now it’s time for Republicans and Democrats to step-up and work to get this done. A reasonable and bipartisan fix to our fiscal challenges will strengthen our economic competitiveness and could do a lot to encourage growth and job creation.”