John Cornyn: “notwithstanding my tremendous admiration and support for the chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Grassley, I must…”

“notwithstanding my tremendous admiration and support for the chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Grassley, I must oppose this amendment. Secretary Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security, who is responsible for actually implementing this program, has called the requirements of this amendment a poison pill. Why in the world would we design a verification system, which I agree is the linchpin of comprehensive enforcement, that fails? Why would we design a system to fail in which the very person who is responsible for enforcing it calls it a poison pill? The administration does not support this amendment. I suggest the underlying bill is a better bill with which to go to conference and work out our differences. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment.”