I want to note this is important to both the majority and the minority. For example, we recently had a bill on the floor of the Senate which was a major bill regarding the compromise struck by President Obama with our Republican colleagues to spend almost $1 trillion. I had an amendment I wanted to present that would have taken some of the money in that bill that was being spent in a fashion which created very few jobs and to spend it in a fashion which would create a lot of jobs. I had another proposal to take money that wasn't being put to good use and to proceed to fill in and support the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. Now, people can argue about whether these were good ideas, but if I had been able to offer one or both of those amendments, I think it would have improved the debate and dialogue and perhaps have resulted in a better piece of legislation.
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