Peter Orszag Confirmation Hearing

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I-CONN.): Good morning. No, good afternoon. And welcome to our hearing today. Today we're going to hold two hearings back to back for the nominees to lead the Office of Management and Budget. First, we will consider the nomination of Peter R. Orszag to be director of OMB.

That child of yours, I would say, is absolutely adorable. And I'm going to give you a moment later on to introduce him. But I would say, as a parent and now a grandparent, I'm greatly admiring of his posture, his sitting right up there. OK.

(UNKNOWN): (OFF-MIKE)

LIEBERMAN: Great. OK. And after Mr. Orszag, we will immediately after hear the nomination separately of Robert L. Nabors to be deputy director.

At this point I would welcome both of you. We're happy to have you with us today. And thank you for your service to our country and your willingness to serve once again.

These nominations come at a time of unprecedented budgetary and economic peril for our nation beyond even the normal for the Office of Management and Budget and those who lead it. The economy, after all, is facing a painful recession at the same time our government faces massive budget deficits.