Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 -- Motion to Proceed
Floor Speech
TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2007--MOTION TO PROCEED -- (Senate - December 04, 2007)
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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I think we all can agree we should fix the AMT. We should have done it much earlier this year. Shortly, I am going to present a unanimous consent agreement based on a very simple proposition: Our time is running short; therefore, we should start the debate with the areas of broadest agreement and work from there.
So what can we all agree upon? We agree it is past time for Congress to act to ensure that 23 million American families do not face a major tax increase this year. While my side of the aisle believes we should permanently repeal the AMT, we are also prepared to ensure that middle-income Americans get tax relief this year.
We agree tax extenders are important to small business, to parents paying college tuition for their children, to teachers who buy classroom supplies with their own money. These issues are not controversial, and I believe a majority of the Senate supports them.
However, there is an area of strong disagreement. We disagree with the proposition that taxes must be permanently raised in order to extend current tax policy. By patching the AMT and extending other expiring provisions, we are simply maintaining the status quo on tax policy. Why should some taxpayers be harmed when no single taxpayer will enjoy increased benefits?
So I recommend that we begin where there is a consensus--the AMT patch and tax extenders. We should require the controversial provisions, those raising revenues, be subject to 60 votes. In addition, my side of the aisle would like an opportunity for votes on our vision for tax relief and AMT reform, all of which we understand would be subject to 60 votes. Anything left at the end of the process would also be subject to 60 votes.
This would be a fair process for the short amount of time we have been given on this bill. Let's not tie up the Senate over disagreements; rather, we should build from areas of broadest consensus.
I do not anticipate the majority leader agreeing to the unanimous consent that I am going to now propound. I want to make sure he is engaged before I do that. Or maybe the chairman of the committee?
Mr. BAUCUS. The leader mentioned to me he had an urgent meeting he had to attend. It is up to the leader if he wants to propound his consent now or later.
Mr. McCONNELL. I thank the Senator from Montana. I gather he is saying he will take care of the consent for their side? I thank the Senator from Montana.
I ask unanimous consent at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to consideration of H.R. 3996, the House-passed AMT bill, and it be considered under the following limitations: There be 1 hour of debate on the bill, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, followed by a vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the bill; provided further, that if cloture is not invoked, then the only amendments in order to the bill be the following, and be offered in the following order: A substitute amendment to be offered by Senator McConnell or his designee, which is to be an unoffset AMT extension and an unoffset extenders package; a Baucus or designee first-degree amendment to the McConnell substitute which is to be a set of offsets for the extender package; a Sessions amendment related to AMT and exemptions; an Ensign amendment which is an AMT repeal and extends other expiring provisions; a DeMint amendment which relates to AMT and flat tax; provided further, that there be an additional 2 hours for debate on the bill, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that there be a time limitation of 2 hours for debate on each amendment equally divided in the usual form, provided that each amendment would require 60 votes in the affirmative for adoption and that each amendment that does not require 60 votes then be withdrawn; I further ask that, notwithstanding the adoption of any substitute amendment, the other amendments be in order, and finally that following the consideration of the above amendments, 60 votes be required for passage of the bill as amended, if amended.
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