Political Quotes

“The main argument being used in support of the extension is that this is the only proposal we can get our Republican colleagues to agree to. In my view, that is an uncharitable view of our Republican colleagues. I think they would embrace a more responsible proposal if they felt they were required to do so. The fact that not a single Republican supported either the proposal Senator Baucus brought to the floor or the proposal Senator Schumer brought to the floor last week, in my view, results from their expectation, which was apparently accurate, that if they remained intransigent, Democrats would give in to their demands to extend all the tax cuts. Those demands reflected in the bill now before us do not acknowledge the serious problem we face with our deficits. I have explained why. There are also some important provisions that were included in the Recovery Act which, unfortunately, have been left out of this tax package. I am informed they have been left out because Republican leaders have insisted Recovery Act provisions not be extended. There are some of the provisions in the Recovery Act that had been extremely beneficial to economic activity in my State. The Build American Bonds program, for example. It is very unfortunate that program is not being continued as part of this package.”