Chuck Schumer: “Madam President, I would like to address two issues. The first is this stimulus package of the majority leader, Senator…”

“Madam President, I would like to address two issues. The first is this stimulus package of the majority leader, Senator Daschle. Let me just say, in a town that is wracked by partisanship, and where the differences often seem insurmountable, only one person has cut through that to try to come up with a compromise that is not going to make either side or any Senator 100-percent happy but is the basis for moving forward and getting a stimulus package. That person is Majority Leader Daschle. I cannot heap enough praise on the majority leader for this effort. We know our economy is squishy. Every one of us goes back to our community and we hear of layoffs, of consumer uncertainty. We hear people are afraid the next 6 months will be considerably worse than the present, and they are looking to Washington for leadership, not only for a stimulus package in terms of the number of dollars that it will put into the hands of people and businesses, but also for a sign that we can work together to give them a sign of confidence, a sign the stewardship of the economy is in good hands and partisan differences are outweighed by what is good for the Nation.”