David Thomas: “I have been here throughout this debate. I have not been involved in this issue prior to this point, as many have. But…”

“I have been here throughout this debate. I have not been involved in this issue prior to this point, as many have. But it has been an interesting and rather surprising sequence of events here on this first day, this sort of ceremonial day, in which we get into this kind of head-to-head arrangement. It is surprising. I do understand why this issue was brought to the floor. That is because there is a time element. We heard a letter from the Secretary of Labor indicating that in order to get a continuation of the unemployment benefits of those who are still eligible, we have to do it by Thursday. So I think that is a pretty compelling issue. In order to get that done, we obviously also have to do something that has been agreed to, apparently, by the House as well. So it is surprising to me that we have this effort made within the Senate, and also with House leadership, to try to do something within this time that is imperative we do, yet we come to the floor and apparently the very people who helped make the agreement now are proposing an amendment which would kill the bill. Certainly it would not make it available in the time that is necessary. There is no reason for anybody to argue with the fact that there are those out there who need some additional help. This bill is not a total remedy. I think everyone admits that. We have to come back and do some other things. But this was argued last year. We could not get it done.”