John B. Breaux: “This amendment simply takes $70 billion off the tax cut which is now at approximately a level of $1.275 trillion. It…”

“This amendment simply takes $70 billion off the tax cut which is now at approximately a level of $1.275 trillion. It says that $70 billion is going to be used for education purposes, and the purpose is to fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA; to put the money back where I think it is a high priority. This amendment is offered on behalf of myself and Senator Jeffords who has been a long-time champion for the funding of the IDEA program. This amendment does not take it out of the contingency fund. There is no more contingency fund. Remember the spectrum? Remember how many times we spent it? It is gone; agriculture and defense and everything else ate it up. If you want the $70 billion, there is only one place to get it, and my amendment provides the one place to get it by reducing the tax cuts. I ask my colleagues to support this effort.”