Speech #1090154041

I think they are unfounded. but I accept Senator MCCONNELLS objection. Therefore. I had no choice but to object because I was concerned that House leaders would use this tax bill as an opportunity for mischief and would insert many items that are repugnant to what we are trying to do with taxes in an immigration bill. Since then. I have asked the majority leader for some assurances that this procedural maneuver would be used solely to get around the blue slip problem and that the conference report would not be used as a vehicle for tax provisions that have nothing to do with the immigration bill. The majority leader has provided such assurances to me orally. In addition. Senators SPECTER. GRAHAM. and MCCA1N have given me written assurances that they will not sign a conference report that contains tax provisions unrelated to the immigration bill. Among other things. this letter says: As chairmanThat is Senator SPECTERand likely members of the immigration conferenceThat is Senators MCCAIN and GRAHAMwe would not sign any conference report that contains tax changes not related to immigration. We simply will not allow the use of the tax bill as a vehicle for comprehensive immigration reform to be abused in conference. I very much appreciate these three fine men giving me this letter. I think this is a way to move forward. Based on the oral assurance of the majority leader and the written assurance from these three Republican Senators. we as Democrats stand ready to appoint conferees and to move forward on this bill at any time the majority leader allows that to happen. We are willing to move forward under the terms previously suggested by the majority whip. We would consent to using the Housepassed tax bill as a vehicle for this immigration conference based on these new assurances. I hope we can do that as soon as possible. I express my apology to my friend from Kansas and thank him for being so patient waiting for Senator FRIST and I to complete our morning statements.