Mitch Landrieu: “Yes, in this amendment, besides what I have described, there is a portion of the amendment--that was actually led by…”

“Yes, in this amendment, besides what I have described, there is a portion of the amendment--that was actually led by Senator Boxer-- that would allow this tax credit to be applied by local governments to try to keep the paychecks whole for firefighters and police officers who have gone to the front line. Think of the irony. The Senator from Florida understands this issue well. In the case he described, a firefighter who fought the fire in New York on 9/11, maybe one who went up into the building, put his life on the line or her life on the line on that day--and we know what happened. We don't have to go back and replay that memory in our head. Then he is in the Guard or Reserve and he signs up to go to Iraq to fight, to take the bullets. Because we left this amendment out, he has to send his family back half a paycheck, and we can't find the money in this bill, $137 billion, to help them keep that paycheck whole? It is a disgrace. It is shameful. It is unjust. It is unconscionable. That is why I am going to stay here until Thursday.”