Senate

McCain: Dems ‘sure as hell’ didn’t have better budget

by Jordain Carney - 03/25/15 8:43 PM ET

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) slammed Democrats on Wednesday, saying they “sure as hell” didn’t come up with a better budget when they were in the majority.

While McCain acknowledged that senators “can do much better,” he added the budget is better than those put forward by Democrats when they led the chamber.

{mosads}”We sure as hell didn’t do any better for the last six years, so anyway,” the Arizona Republican said from the Senate floor.

McCain was responding to Sen. Jeff Merkley, who said that lawmakers “can do much better.”

The Oregon Democrat spoke from the Senate floor with a “middle-class budget report card.” He gave the Republican budget “a failing grade” on Medicare, infrastructure, education and food security.

McCain urged his colleagues to support the Republican budget, saying the country faces “a far greater risk” than the deficit.

“I urge my colleagues … to go ahead and pass this budget and give our military what they need,” McCain said. “As dire as the deficit is … right now, we are facing a far greater risk.”

Tags John McCain