Max Baucus: “I encourage Senators to not support this amendment, very simply because the committee has worked long and hard to try to…”

“I encourage Senators to not support this amendment, very simply because the committee has worked long and hard to try to find a balance here, to balance out interests of those communities on the one hand that want to have the right to control the flow of trash, garbage, dedicated facilities in their communities, and, on the other hand, the rights of companies, entrepreneurs, to ship trash to whatever location seems to make the most sense to let the free market work. It is a classic battle between those who want to control by statute and law in the market on the one hand, and those, on the other hand, who want total free market. As is always the case, the right answer is somewhere in between. The solution crafted by the committee, we think, is a good solution in between. Frankly, Mr. President, if the amendment offered by the Senator from Vermont were to pass, I believe we are going to start to find this compromise begin to unravel, and it would, therefore, very strongly jeopardize this bill.”