Max Baucus: “I totally agree. He said it much more directly, as he customarily does. I was a little more oblique and indirect, as I…”

“I totally agree. He said it much more directly, as he customarily does. I was a little more oblique and indirect, as I sometimes am. Chuck Grassley is basic good Chuck Grassley representing the State of Iowa in a very thoughtful and great way. Mr. President, I will say a few words about this bill. First, it provides meaningful tax relief. It will clearly benefit millions of middle-income Americans. It largely is made up of extensions, basically provisions, for which I and many of our colleagues worked hard when Congress enacted them in the first place. The package we consider today is also far better targeted than the package Congress enacted last year. What we are passing today includes provisions that are very important, more specifically to everyday people, to Montanans and to Minnesotans, to people all across the country. That is not to say that this legislation, in my judgment, is perfect. It is not. I think it has some quite significant shortcomings, but we are here today and this is a vote on the conference report. It is all or nothing and I frankly believe that the good in this bill significantly outweighs the bad. If I were drafting it, it would be quite a bit different than this legislation. But this is America, this is the legislative process, and it is a step forward and I will urge my colleagues to support it.”