Max Baucus: “Very briefly, I heard two arguments from one Senator as to why this pending amendment, agricultural disaster assistance…”

“Very briefly, I heard two arguments from one Senator as to why this pending amendment, agricultural disaster assistance, should not pass. It is a very technical argument that it violates the Budget Act. I remind my colleagues, the unanimous consent agreement that applies to this bill, to this amendment basically says first-degree amendments are in order: First-degree amendments are in order, that they be related to the text of the bill, homeland security, and also natural disasters. This is a natural disaster amendment. It clearly is contemplated by the unanimous consent agreement. The argument was made: Not on this bill. That is clearly not an argument because the unanimous consent agreement clearly contemplates amendments that relate to natural disasters. So that argument is gone. That is wrong. The second argument was made: Gee, the cost violates the Budget Act. A very simple point I make is if one wants to press that argument, it also applies to disaster assistance for the State of Florida. Agricultural disaster assistance is the same as Florida hurricane disaster assistance under the Budget Act. They are the same. They are technically the same. There can be a point of order made against both. Sixty votes are required. I do not know whether the other side is going to make a point of order against the Florida hurricane disaster assistance. I frankly doubt it. I think it would be very unwise.”