Judd Gregg: “I thank the Chair for that ruling. I hope that clarifies that point and responds, I believe, adequately to the points of…”

“I thank the Chair for that ruling. I hope that clarifies that point and responds, I believe, adequately to the points of the chairman of the Finance Committee that might not be the case. Let me summarize. We made a point of order, a motion to waive was brought forward, the chairman of the Finance Committee, and the chairman of the Transportation and Public Works Committee were successful by an overwhelming vote and we lost. I do not think that should lead to the chairman of the Committee on Finance coming to the Senate and suggesting the role of the Committee on the Budget in making these points is in some way inappropriate or irrelevant, that we should not take this effort to try to enforce a budget--especially when we passed the budget last week. I admire, as I said, the Finance Committee chairman a great deal. I am sorry this misunderstanding has occurred. But I do believe I have an obligation as chairman of the Committee on the Budget to at least speak up on behalf of my staff, who has done an extraordinary job under fairly difficult circumstances. In that context, for a more historical perspective on the highway bill, since this was cited by the chairman of the Committee on Finance, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the Informed Budgeteer statement which is a budget statement summarizing the history of the highway bill.…”