Max Baucus: “I am very proud of the Senate. The Senate worked its will through a very involved and complex tax bill. I might add--I…”

“I am very proud of the Senate. The Senate worked its will through a very involved and complex tax bill. I might add--I don't have the final figures here, but in the case of first impression, this probably is one of the largest tax bills the Senate has taken up and passed, outside of reconciliation--we don't know yet-- in maybe a decade, or maybe close to two decades. I say that because of the importance of protecting Senators' rights. I know this sounds like a little inside baseball, but when I say ``outside reconciliation,'' all of us in the Senate know this means the bill was taken up under the usual Senate process, which means Senators have the right to offer amendments, have the right to speak as long as they can stand on their own two feet, and have the rights Senators usually have in taking up bills. Whereas, if this were to be taken up under the process we call ``reconciliation,'' then amendments would have to be passed very easily; that is, there is no right for extended debate. Germaneness rules do not apply; that is, unless cloture is invoked. So the main point I want to make is that the Senate has done a good job. The Senate has taken up a very complicated, very large tax bill, and done it the way the Senate should ordinarily do business; that is, outside of reconciliation. We are responsible. We can do it. We did it. I very much thank my good friend and colleague, the chairman of the Finance Committee, who led us in a way to help make that happen.”