Barbara Boxer: “I wonder if the public is confused about what this debate is all about. They see colleagues across party aisles, from…”

“I wonder if the public is confused about what this debate is all about. They see colleagues across party aisles, from Texas and California, joining hands--we don't often do this on many issues--and complaining that, in fact, a compromise that was supposed to occur in the committee to work out the problems we all had with this depot language was abandoned. Had that language been held to, had we been able to work it out, we would all be here without holding up this bill. I really think what is at stake is very important not just to those workers at McClellan, 2,000 strong--it impacts 2,000 families--4,000 workers at Kelly, at least that many and their families, but also, as Senator Gramm has pointed out, to taxpayers throughout the Nation. But the fact is, either you are for competition and the best deal for taxpayers or you are not. We are for competition. We are for allowing the private sector to come in with a fair and level playing field. The language in the bill which we now oppose would thwart competition.”