Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I do not see Senator Baucus in the Chamber, so I will go ahead and get started. My understanding is we will be going back and forth. So I will finish my opening remarks, and then if he arrives I will yield to him. In just a few hours Senators are going to have a distinct choice. Two amendments will be offered to repeal what I think we have all come to regard as a very nonsensical tax paperwork mandate that was included in the health care reform bill. There is broad agreement the 1099 repeal is necessary to remove Federal roadblocks to job creation. But today we have a choice on the two amendments. Today's choice comes down to what I regard as a very straightforward choice, a choice relative to fiscal responsibility, and it is illustrated by the chart I have in the Chamber. My amendment fully offsets the cost of the 1099 repeal. The alternative Baucus amendment piles $19 billion of debt onto the backs of future generations. The irony of this is just unmistakable. On one hand, we have a provision in the health care law that we have all come to regard as crazy, foolishness. Even the President has said it does not make any sense--or words to that effect. On one hand, to repeal it, we are adding to the debt of future generations. On the other hand, my amendment fully offsets that cost. Americans have sounded an alarm regarding Washington's out-of-control spending. They demand we address what is a huge $14 trillion debt.…”