Alan Simpson: “I just came to the floor many minutes ago to debate a different amendment. But I see apparently there is no one on the…”

“I just came to the floor many minutes ago to debate a different amendment. But I see apparently there is no one on the other side of this, and that should not go untended. If I may then speak in opposition to the amendment, that, first of all, this amendment is not about domestic violence and the other tragedies that visit upon our Nation. I have found--and I share with my colleague from California that on these issues of immigration, filled with emotion, fear, guilt and racism, your colleagues during the entire day say, ``Alan, we are very pleased to assist you in all this work.'' But when it comes time to stand on the floor, they are absent in great droves--droves--I have found, because these are not popular issues. How about cash assistance, noncash assistance? The Senate has already accepted an amendment from Senator Wellstone which will address all concerns about violence, domestic violence, all that. That is clear. That has already been done somewhere along the line. This amendment exempts all noncash programs from all of the immigration-related provisions within this entire welfare bill. The cost of it is $707 million. We are never going to reach the reconciliation instructions with this welfare bill. And the Finance Committee has now been charged--there are some on the floor. Senator Bradley serves on that committee. Of all the savings to be obtained in reconciliation, $607 billion are to be saved.…”