Unanimous Consent Request -- H. R. 6049

Floor Speech

UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 6049 -- (Senate - September 18, 2008)

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I share the majority leader's hope that we will be on a glidepath toward completion of the Senate's business on a timely basis. I largely support the provisions of this bill.

We have been consulting with the Finance Committee chairman, Senator Baucus, and Senator Grassley, the ranking member, and in good consultation with the staff. The problem is that as proposed, my State, the State of Texas, where 2 million people are without power because of the devastation of Hurricane Ike, are being treated in a discriminatory manner under some of the provisions of this bill.

I am hopeful--indeed, I am optimistic--that we can work through these issues. Our initial discussions have been very productive. I expect we will be able to reach some resolution, but we are not there yet.

For that reason, I reluctantly object.

Mr. REID. I ask through the Chair a question: When? That is the question. When is all this going to be worked out, if it is going to be worked out?

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I say to the distinguished majority leader, we have had productive meetings, as I said, with the Finance Committee staff and the Joint Tax staff. We are consulting now with the Governor of our State and with other officials who have responsibilities in the areas most affected by this devastating hurricane.

We think after consultation, hopefully over the course of the afternoon, we can wrap this up. But it is going to take all of us working together to try to reach that resolution. I am hopeful we can get there, but we are not there yet.

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