Chuck Schumer

So when the Senator is saying ``taxpayers pay,'' in this case it is not even the Federal taxpayer-- which we do in other areas--it would be the local property taxpayer who would be left holding the bag?

If I might ask a question or two more? So we are saying the Government is mandating it, but we are not putting in any Government backstop?

I know the Senator has been a leader and expert in these issues of suits and liability, far more than I have. How often have we done this? How often have we taken some substances that we know are dangerous already, some substances that…

I am sorry I could not be here at the beginning of the debate, but I have a couple of questions. Just let me get this straight. We are banning MTBEs because we know they are harmful--in this bill. Some of our States have done it already…

I do not enjoy opposing a provision in a bill about which I know Senator Daschle cares very deeply. I thought long and hard about whether to oppose the amendment and came to the conclusion that I had no choice, that I was compelled to do…

Well, my position is we should not have this mandate anywhere, but obviously if we were offered an exemption for New York, and for California, the vehemence against this opposition would disappear. We are defending the vital interests of…

The groups who represent lots of these people, who I daresay know more about their lives and their abilities to meet the requirements of this bill than either he or I do, say the lengthy list, which the Senator read, does not work. I ask…

I am personally reading the amendment for the first time. It does not seem to say actually yes or no. I understand what the Senator from Arizona pointed out, but that just talks about presenting the Social Security card if you have it. If…

If I may elaborate so I get this clear, so under this amendment a State could say you must identify yourself by a Social Security number; other means of identification would not work?

Only he could give such a speech with the strength that is needed. I wish to ask the Senator a question, given his knowledge of the Constitution and our history. Senator Byrd has focused on two issues: the ability to declare war and the…

I thank my colleague. Before I ask my question, I wish to thank the Senator from West Virginia for taking to the floor on such an important and timely issue because we are in a grave new world. No one can doubt the Senator's fidelity as a…

I thank the Senator. I don't want to get into any disputation about the underlying package. The Senator was very helpful to us in the final moments of the session last time about getting a New York package. I thank him for that and hope we…

I rise to enter into a brief colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding a section which would provide $100,000,000 in badly needed transit capital investment grants to those transit agencies…

If we waited until next spring, could it be that the potential of our FBI to catch the terrorists or prevent the next--God forbid--terrorist incident from occurring in America would be greatly downgraded and it would increase the chances…

The terrorists hate our right to vote. They want a group of religious leaders controlling everything and not letting people make any determination. The beauty of America is we can vote, and our job as Senators, our job as citizens, is to…

When the Senator said this was an option before the amendment, it was an option for the administration. As I understand it, it would not be an option in the New York City Housing Authority, or any housing authority that got $20 million out…

I thank the Senator for his excellent remarks. I wish to say, before I ask him a question, I join with him. This is of vital importance to the close to 8,000 dairy farmers in New York in countless communities. I say to the good Senator…

I would respond to my friend, the distinguished chairman, that the report language we seek will be consistent with the WRDA policy regarding the appropriate cost-share for navigation project. I would also say that we intend to secure the…

There are currently three major federally authorized and sponsored navigation projects under construction in the Port of New York and New Jersey and a fourth in the preconstruction, engineering, and design phase. The projects that would…

I just want to add my thanks to my friend from North Dakota. Again, just as was the hearing in Nevada, the hearing in New York was moving, factual, and brought the case to real life as to why we need this proposal. And the Senator did. He…

I sympathize with what the Senator says, in terms of people having to sell a business to pay for the tax. That is a different issue. That deals with repeal. Our amendment does not address repeal. It simply says, instead of lowering the…

The number of estates in the Senator's State of Iowa that paid an estate tax of more than $5 million--we are debating $3 million, so this is probably a little low--is 23. That speech was given for approximately 35 families a year in Iowa…

Does the Senator dispute that our amendment continues the repeal of the estate tax in the exact time as the committee bill, in the year 2011, and that the only thing affected in our amendment--we can read a long list of everyone who is for…

The Senator from Arizona is well aware of my record. I voted against that. But that is not this amendment.

Yes. We do not leave it there. We reduce it from 55 percent to 53 percent. But the only people affected are those with estates worth over $3 million.