Bob Kerrey: “first of all, let me return the compliment. I have high praise for the chairman. He has done exceptional work on this…”

“first of all, let me return the compliment. I have high praise for the chairman. He has done exceptional work on this issue, especially the 3 days of hearings which penetrated the section 6103 veil and issues that are protected under normal circumstances by privacy laws. Let me also respectfully disagree with his characterization of this as a watered-down bill, citing the Washington Post, the New York Times, et cetera. They are apt to object to many of the things that the distinguished Senator from Delaware wants to do as well. This piece of legislation has the full endorsement of America's accountants, America's enrolled agents, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Treasury Employees Union. It is by no means small reform. I intend this afternoon to go through the bill. It was sitting at the desk a couple of days ago. We could have taken this thing up a couple of weeks ago and had a full debate on it. We would have had plenty of opportunity to amend it, to improve it and to change it, but we didn't. I am going to go through this bill and let my colleagues decide on behalf of their taxpayers whether or not they want to change the law. It looks like we only have a day or two left, but all we have to do is bring it up here to the floor. All we have to do is have no objection raised, and we can pass this piece of legislation.”