Chuck Grassley: “I am obviously very pleased that the Senate has finally come to the point of voting on something in 2007 to take care of…”

“I am obviously very pleased that the Senate has finally come to the point of voting on something in 2007 to take care of the alternative minimum tax problem. I would rather have gone through this process several months ago but better late than never. Over the course of this year, I have given 12 Senate floor speeches analyzing the alternative minimum tax and describing the problem it poses for middle-class taxpayers, and I have done that in great detail. As I said so many times--before, hoping, and now I am glad to say the Senate Democratic leadership seems to realize--the AMT should not be offset. I also wish to thank my good friend, Chairman Baucus, for all of his hard work this year and for several years to protect middle-income taxpayers from the AMT. Chairman Baucus did our country a great service by pushing for this compromise that can garner, we hope, the support of Democrats and Republicans. Although we did not mark up in committee, Chairman Baucus rolled up his sleeves and got to work to find a middle ground. That middle ground is before us. He has consistently avoided bitter partisanship and always worked to do the right thing.”