"The American people expect more from Congress. They expect fiscal responsibility and common sense. They expect us to return to the pay-as-you-go budget rules that we had enacted in the past that helped us establish a surplus, however briefly"

This quote by Melissa Bean is a call to action for Congress to take obligation for the country's financial resources. She is advising Congress to go back to the pay-as-you-go budget plan guidelines that were in place in the past and assisted the nation achieve a surplus. This is a pointer that the American individuals expect Congress to be fiscally accountable and utilize sound judgment when making choices. Bean is stressing the importance of fiscal obligation and the requirement for Congress to take action to guarantee the country's financial stability. She is also reminding Congress that the American people are seeing and anticipating them to make the right decisions. This quote is a suggestion that Congress must take responsibility for the nation's financial resources and make decisions that will benefit the nation as a whole.