Chuck Grassley: “we have now come to the end of our many days of deliberation over the tax cut bill. This will probably be my final bill…”

“we have now come to the end of our many days of deliberation over the tax cut bill. This will probably be my final bill during my brief tenure as chairman of the Finance Committee, and so, I want to make a few closing remarks about the bill before us this morning. This bill represents an enormous bipartisan effort. This bill has had bipartisan participation from its very creation, all the way through to its completion in conference with the House. The bill before us today was drafted in concert with Senators Baucus, Breaux, and many others on the Finance Committee from both sides of the aisle--all of whom I consulted with personally. I thank you all for your insights and guidance in designing this bill. I would also like to thank Chairman Bill Thomas of the House Ways and Means Committee. His responsiveness to the difficulties we face here in the Senate was refreshing and very constructive. But most of all, we should thank President Bush. It was his leadership and vision that led us to this historic moment--as we prepare to enact the largest individual income tax cut in 20 years.”