Raising the debt limit on some levels is a ministerial act. It doesn't involve any new spending.

I think there's no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people's lives and improve the world.

If you look at the cost of providing health insurance, it actually doesn't cost more to provide a plan with contraceptive coverage than it does without.

The challenge for any government is how do you do two things at the same time. How do you put money forward for things like the payroll tax holiday, for things like getting a jump-start on infrastructure, for building schools, and make the decisions for long-term deficit reduction.

I think there is a shared sense of urgency in Washington on fiscal issues.

The issue of providing women all forms of preventative health care has been and remains very important. The, the importance of protecting religious liberties in this country has been important to the president and will always be.

Europe is trying to get its fiscal house in order.