Paul Coverdell: “I only assert that it is a move in the wrong direction. I agree that the amendment we adopted yesterday is a step in the…”

“I only assert that it is a move in the wrong direction. I agree that the amendment we adopted yesterday is a step in the right direction because it will sweep those rules that are affected by reg-flex into our system. But there can be no argument that by moving from a $50 million threshold to a $100 million threshold, we are removing protection from a class of businesses, and they will generally be smaller businesses that are affected by the full ramifications of the bill and not just reg-flex. And let me say, as I said yesterday, Mr. President, that if I am confronted with the issue of who suffers the overload or the burden, and the argument is between small businesses or medium-sized businesses or huge, mega agencies, Mr. President, I side on the equation of helping businesses that have been suffering and the ramifications that come from that suffering and not on the side of these huge agencies with millions and billions of dollars and attorneys, so many that you cannot even name them. We should be moving in the direction of protecting the people on Main Street America and not on being overly concerned about the burdens these big agencies face.”