Max Baucus: “this is a balancing amendment to make the bill fair to all regions of the country. When the committee took up the bill…”

“this is a balancing amendment to make the bill fair to all regions of the country. When the committee took up the bill in the first place--actually there were several major bills--it was intended to represent different parts of the country. We in the committee melded these bills together. One is a donor States bill; one is a New England States, Eastern States, bill; one is a Western States bill. Because of the leadership of the chairman, Senator Chafee, as well as the composition of the committee, which is balanced, we came up with a very balanced bill. Now, balance is in the eyes of the beholder. When we finished, there were some States that felt that although treated fairly, they perhaps could have been treated more fairly. The effect of this bill is to make sure that all parts of the country are treated evenly, fairly. The effect of this amendment will help accomplish that. It will also help speed passage of this bill. It is my hope, and even expectation, that we can finish this bill today with the passage of this amendment, because the remaining business before the Senate is various amendments, matters that, as important as they are, are not as much of a consequence as this amendment, which is the one that has been worked out in the last couple, 3 days--actually last week, with the chairman and others and interested Senators. So I urge that this amendment be agreed to. It is going to speed passage of the bill and can get some highways built.”