William Bryan: “I preface my comments this afternoon by praising the distinguished public service of the ranking member of the Senate…”

“I preface my comments this afternoon by praising the distinguished public service of the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, the very able and distinguished senior Senator from New York, Mr. Moynihan. Senator Moynihan is not only a treasure for his own State; he is a national resource. This institution and this country will greatly miss his public service. His years of experience have provided context and perspective for many of the policy debates in which we have been engaged since I have been a Member of this body and, more specifically, since becoming a member of the Senate Finance Committee and having had the opportunity to meet with him. He always acts in a gracious way, with much charm and considerable Irish wit and humor that makes every meeting of the Senate Finance Committee something special because of his wisdom, his insight, and the manner in which he presents his case. I am pleased to be supportive of the alternative marriage penalty relief measure of which he is the prime architect, and I will discuss that more in just a moment. My purpose in coming to the floor this afternoon is to oppose the legislation before us today.”