Jay Rockefeller: “this is a chance for us to engage in constructive discussion. It is still a very interesting proposition. I think it is…”

“this is a chance for us to engage in constructive discussion. It is still a very interesting proposition. I think it is going to pass, and it will be, in spite of what was said last night, bipartisan. In fact, it could not possibly pass without that being the fact. There are a number of things in here which are called cuts, but I think it is very important we remember that these are, for the most part, not cuts from the present situation but cuts from the original stimulus package, which was cut by over $100 billion, and therefore they appear to be cuts, but they are not cuts. They are actually, for the most part, additions--substantial additions--to what we already have. So if the bill had not passed, a lot of these programs would cease to exist. So I think it is a positive document. It is not without flaws. We have a conference committee coming and that will be very important. I look forward to the engagement today and to the conference committee and to the passage of the bill.”