In other words, we must be straight with the American people about the real consequences of all budgetary decisions.

Many difficult budgetary decisions must be made in the next few weeks.

"It was a budgetary decision but also an ideological one," he said.

He is pushing for the new board to have a say in budgetary and policy decisions.

The key question of any budgetary decision is: Can we afford it?

More important, by setting 3.5 percent economic growth as a target, he suggests that the hard budgetary decisions will never have to be made.

This usually occurs during the early part of the calendar year when the President's budget is issued and important budgetary decisions must be made.

Your support here will be crucial when the budgetary decisions have to be taken.

This second aspect is very often lacking when budgetary decisions are being made.

That should always be done independently of the assessments made to prepare budgetary decisions.