Max Baucus: “as I said on the Brownback amendment, there is much to be said for indexing this provision. It is true we don't want to…”

“as I said on the Brownback amendment, there is much to be said for indexing this provision. It is true we don't want to get back into the situation we now face with the AMT because the AMT was not originally indexed. Unfortunately, the current amendment will be offset with unspent, unallocated mandatory spending of stimulus funds. Unemployment is still hovering close to 10 percent. There is growing evidence the recovery package is working. I don't think we want to stifle the stimulus now. Over the last 6 months of 2009, the economy grew at an annual rate of 4 percent. The fourth quarter grew at a higher rate, but that was due to an inventory situation. By and large, it is not proper to offset this with stimulus dollars. We will find some time at a later date to deal with this issue. I do think it is a serious issue. I raise a point of order that the Murkowski amendment violates section 313(b)(1)(c) of the Congressional Budget Act.”