Alan Simpson: “I hope that people with amendments will submit those, giving us an opportunity on both sides of the aisle to see what…”

“I hope that people with amendments will submit those, giving us an opportunity on both sides of the aisle to see what amendments there may be yet forthcoming, because at some point in time--maybe today--we can close the list of amendments so that at least we would have some perspective. I have given up one or two of my amendments--one that Senator Feingold and I debated in committee. I have withdrawn that. I hope that that marvelous, generous act will stimulate others to do such a magnanimous thing as to take one of their 'babies,' one of their very wonderful things, and lay it to rest, perhaps. In any event, I think that we are nearly ready to proceed to a final vote on that. I think anything else I would say would be repetitive, other than to say that the choices are clear. To do all the things we want to do, which play upon your heartstrings, you have to raise the numbers. If you do not raise the numbers, then you have to make priorities. If you are making priorities, it was my silly idea that you ought to have the priorities as minor children and spouses, and not adult brothers and sisters. That is where my numbers would come from. No mystery. That is where they would come from.”