Harry Reid: “for me to speak against Senator Domenici and Senator Conrad is difficult. I work very closely with Senator Domenici. We…”

“for me to speak against Senator Domenici and Senator Conrad is difficult. I work very closely with Senator Domenici. We have been on the Appropriations Committee working side by side on a number of issues, including the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, of which I have been chairman and he has been chairman, back and forth. Of course, Senator Conrad and I came to the Senate together. There is no one I have more respect for than Senator Conrad and for his integrity and his absolute brilliance. So for me to speak against something on which they agree is difficult. But as much respect as I have for both of these outstanding men, it does not mean they are always right. I respectfully submit that what they are trying to accomplish now is wrong. Leave it in the bill is basically what my message is. I know I speak for the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Baucus, and I know I speak for the majority leader, Senator Daschle, when I say this. The House-passed bill includes directed scorekeeping language. This language would require the CBO and OMB to treat the purchase of private sector securities by the new railroad retirement trust as a means of financing rather than as an outlay.”