Max Baucus: “I wish now to talk about a package of amendments that hasn't been added to the legislation but has merit. I want to put…”

“I wish now to talk about a package of amendments that hasn't been added to the legislation but has merit. I want to put my colleagues on notice that I will be asking unanimous consent that this package be added to the legislation. On a piece of legislation this large, it is difficult to process every amendment that is filed. In fact, over 600 amendments have been filed to this bill. We have processed 30 of these, but that leaves about 500 not yet voted on. The same was true in the Finance Committee, before we took up the bill and before it came to the floor. In the committee we had over 200 amendments filed and we couldn't vote on every one of those. On a number of them, I asked Senators to withhold from offering them. For some, we were not sure how much they would cost, and for others we needed more time to analyze the proposal because they came to us pretty quickly and we didn't know what it meant. I asked Senators to hold off for a while to figure out what it means, and maybe we can work it out, but it would be best to take it to the floor. Many Senators did that. I pledged to the Senators I would work with them on the floor. We were able to work out many of the amendments. Senator Grassley and I reached an agreement on a number of tax and health amendments, and they are reflected in an amendment that has been filed.”