Max Baucus

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I understand the next amendment is DeMint amendment No. 168, the tax cut substitute. This amendment is very simple. It strikes the entire bill. Then it replaces the entire bill with a $2.5 trillion increase in the national debt, according to the Joint Committee on Tax. With debt service and added tax provisions, it increases the national debt over 10 years by $3 trillion because it is a massive tax cut. Again, it replaces the underlying bill, which means no aid to States, no energy provisions, no infrastructure provisions, nothing that is in the bill, replaced by a tax cut which takes effect in 2011. Joint Tax scores this, adding interest on the debt, about a $3 trillion increase in the national debt over 3 years. I strongly urge this amendment not be adopted.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I raise a point of order that the pending amendment violates section 201 of Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008.

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask for the yeas and nays on that motion.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, it is my understanding the next amendment is Bond amendment No. 161. I have checked with our side. Our side is willing to accept this amendment. I understand it is also acceptable by the other side, but I will let Senator Bond speak to that.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, we are ready to vote.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, this amendment adds $5.2 billion for defense. It pays for it by cutting a long list of programs out of the bill: energy-efficient motor vehicle fleet--that is one I see right here--grants for the National Passenger Rail Corporation, among others. On behalf of Senator Inouye, I make a point of order that the pending amendment violates section 302(f) of the Budget Act.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, the amendment is very simple. Let me explain the consequence of the amendment. Those who pay income taxes will get a tax reduction. Those who work but do not pay income taxes--they pay payroll taxes--will not get any benefit from this amendment. That is the portion that is cut out. That is about 50 million Americans. So this amendment would give a tax cut to those who pay income taxes--a modest amount--and to pay for it, it disenfranchises those 49 million, 50 million Americans who will get a tax break under this bill because they work; that is, they pay payroll tax. Those who work but who are not wealthy will spend the money more than people who are wealthier and get a tax cut. So I suggest very strongly that we do not support this amendment. I raise a point of order that the pending amendment violates section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, this amendment effectively undoes part of the budget agreement that was agreed to in 1993. We effectively balanced the budget and ended up with a $10 billion, $11 trillion surplus. The fact is, the amendment reduces taxes only on the top 24 percent, the highest income-earning seniors. Twenty-four percent of the most wealthy seniors--that is highest income--will get a break in taxes. Other seniors will not. The other 76 percent will get no break. The Senator from Kentucky pays for it by reducing parts of the bill which create jobs. This is highways, this is roads, this is energy, and so forth. Frankly, I don't think that is a wise course of action to take. Accordingly, I raise a point of order that the pending amendment violates section 201 of Senate Concurrent Resolution 21.

Mr. BAUCUS. The next amendment is the Dorgan amendment, No. 300, which we are prepared to take.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Landrieu, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendments be temporarily set aside, and Senator Landrieu's amendment No. 102 be called up and agreed to, and that the motion to reconsider be temporarily laid on the table.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I have checked with Senator Cochran.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, on the Landrieu amendment, I withdraw my request.

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, it is my understanding that with the amendment just offered by the Senator from Nevada, tomorrow morning the first amendment to be considered will be the amendment offered by Senator McCain from Arizona. The second amendment will be the amendment offered by the Senator from Nevada, Mr. Ensign. I ask unanimous consent that be the order.

Mr. BAUCUS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, at this point, I appreciate that the Senator from Wyoming has an amendment. I wondered if perhaps he could hold off and offer his amendment tomorrow and work out with Senator Boxer the appropriate accommodations for both Senators. That would be my hope. In the meantime, Senator Harkin has an amendment he would like to offer.

Mr. BAUCUS. I thank the Senator for his accommodation.

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside and the following Senators be permitted to call up amendments at the desk as follows: DeMint, No. 189; Boxer, an amendment regarding environmental laws; Barrasso, an amendment regarding environmental laws; Harkin, amendment No. 338; Dodd, amendment No. 145; McCaskill, amendments Nos. 125 and 236, with a modification; that the Landrieu amendment No. 102 be called up, and once that is reported this evening, it be considered and agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Dodd and Harkin, I call up amendments, one for each Senator, and on behalf of Senator McCaskill, I call up two amendments as under the previous order.

Mr. BAUCUS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the following Finance Committee fellows and interns be allowed floor privileges during consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Lauren Bishop, Dan Gutschenritter, Marissa Reeves.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry: Where are we?

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, might I ask the Senator from Mississippi for 2 minutes?