On the recordMarch 29, 2011
it feels a bit like deja vu standing here today discussing the ongoing saga of the 1099 repeal. Two weeks ago, I offered amendment No. 161 to the small business bill. If we read all the press releases and the public statements, it appears that absolutely nobody could possibly oppose repeal of the 1099 requirement in section 9006 of the health care bill. Yet once again the other side is attempting to delay or derail the 1099 repeal by offering a second-degree amendment. I might have been open to a second-degree amendment when we started this process many long months ago. But now we are approaching the 1-year anniversary since we began fighting to repeal this unnecessary mandate. It had no place in the health care bill in the first place. I can't help but question why on Earth we are still swinging and missing at this one. Is it a lack of support in my caucus? The answer to that is no. Support amongst Republicans is absolutely unanimous. Lack of Republican support certainly has not held this up. I ask myself if there is a lack of bipartisan support that is holding up the effort. The answer to that is also no. My colleague, the junior Senator from West Virginia, has cosponsored the last several versions of this repeal legislation in the Senate. Together, Senator Manchin and I have secured dozens of Democrats who strongly support the repeal, and 76 Democrats voted for identical 1099 repeal in the House of Representatives.…





