Russ Feingold: “I will oppose this measure. In addition to containing some questionable policy provisions, such as the provisions…”

“I will oppose this measure. In addition to containing some questionable policy provisions, such as the provisions relating to drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and granting Vietnam permanent most-favored-nation trading status, the bill before us contains expensive entitlement spending and tax cuts that have not been fully offset. As a result, the legislation will increase the deficit by $40 billion over the next 5 years. I can count votes as well as the next person, and it is obvious that this measure will pass and pass by a large margin and with bipartisan support. That is disappointing, because while Members of my own party have rightly called for a return to the budget rules requiring that tax cuts and increased entitlement spending be offset, some are nevertheless pushing for the enactment of this measure without any serious effort to require such offsets. One might wonder why that is. At least two reasons come to mind. First, there are reasons to believe that some in my party are anxious to get this bill through this year because they know full well that the new incoming Democratic majority in the House and Senate would bristle at some of the trade provisions in this proposal. Those who have supported the trade policies of the past several years understand that this may be their last chance to pass questionable trade measures. If that is the reason, I have little to say other than thank goodness the 110th Congress is just around the corner.”