Cord Byrd: “my amendment will suspend the time limitations on debate for reconciliation bills that increase the deficit. The…”

“my amendment will suspend the time limitations on debate for reconciliation bills that increase the deficit. The Congress will never succeed in balancing the budget, cutting the deficit, as long as the reconciliation process can be used to shield controversial tax-and-spending decisions from debate and amendment. If Senators want to ensure offsets for deficit-increasing measures, then we must protect our rights to debate and amend within the budget process. The more tax cuts that can be forced through now without offsets, the tougher the budget decisions and the worse the pain in the coming months and years. The budget cuts that seem tough now will grow enormous, and they will be unbearable, if tax cuts continue without offsets. I urge adoption of the amendment. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Harkin be added as a cosponsor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.”