I can assure that this president is very concerned about the budget deficit.

The president is very concerned about (gas prices) and is committed to doing everything he can to reduce the high price of gasoline. Unfortunately, as the president said a number of times, it took us a long time to get into this situation and it's going to take us a long time to get out.

What we do want to see is reforms that are going to have a permanent effect on the budget deficit.

This is not part of their budget.

Democrats were quick to point out that President Bush's budget creates a 1 trillion dollar deficit. The White House quickly responded with 'Hey, look over there, it's Saddam Hussein.'

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.