Harry Reid: “The point of that provision is to provide that a nonpartisan, unelected official could make that decision. That seems…”

“The point of that provision is to provide that a nonpartisan, unelected official could make that decision. That seems totally reasonable. But I find it amazing that the Senator from Utah complained of ceding powers to unelected officials. In testimony before the Budget and Appropriations Committees, respected constitutional scholars testified that the Simon amendment granted the President increased impoundment powers. Section 5 of my amendment ensures this will not happen under my amendment. You see, Mr. President, my amendment preserves what the framers of the Constitution wanted. They wanted separate but equal branches of government. The Simon amendment makes them unequal and gives all the power to the executive branch.”