Media Stakeout with Senate Leaders

MEDIA STAKEOUT WITH SENATE LEADERS

SUBJECT: THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN TENATIVE AGREEMENT

PARTICIPANTS: SENATOR BEN NELSON (D-NE); SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME); SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA); SENATOR JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (ID-CT)

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SEN. NELSON: For those who had any questions about whether or not this could be accomplished, I guess the proof is before you.

We did reach an agreement. We recognize that the plan that is moving forward is not perfect, but we think that it does what is necessary to reduce unnecessary spending, taking worthwhile projects off the stimulus bill so that they can go into other mechanisms. They can go into budget bills or omnibus bills or some other location for consideration.

But I believe that the tax cuts and a combination of the spending that's there and the spending reduction really, I think, will serve the American taxpayer well.

People of this country are hurting. Nebraska, which is a state that usually is very late to a recession is already there ahead of schedule. We know firsthand what the pain is in our state, and I know other states are experiencing that. And it is our expectation and our hope that this plan will help return America and restore America with jobs and opportunities.

And I want to thank my colleagues. Senator Collins has been a stalwart, a very courageous person who stepped to the forefront. She's always an able partner and a good friend. And I appreciate so much her wise counsel and her strong efforts.

Let me say also that Senator Specter contributed significantly to this not only by his presence, but with his input and his wise counsel about what should be in the package and I think that brought a great deal.

And I want to thank also, my friend Senator Joe Lieberman, who speaks eloquently and who is also capable of giving us some very wise counsel and did.

Susan.

SEN. COLLINS: Thank you.

Tonight is a victory for the American people. We demonstrated that we can come together to tackle the most important problem facing our nation. The economic crisis is dire and it requires tough, immediate action.

The bill that we were first presented by the House, in my judgment, did not do the job. It was bloated. It included unnecessary expenditures. It was not targeted on programs and spending that would help to turn our economy around and save or create jobs.

We've worked very hard to trim, to remove those unnecessary expenditures and we've made an enormous different to the bottom line. The proposal that we put forth cuts $110 billion. Those aren't minor adjustments. They are major changes.

At the same time, we're going forward with robust spending for infrastructure projects that will create jobs with aid to the states -- $87 billion to prevent cutbacks in essential health care programs to some of our most vulnerable citizens; assistance to our schools, particularly through the special education program and also by boosting Pell Grants.

This project, this bill, is not perfect. It would be difficult to get a bill that everyone agrees on. But it represents an effective, targeted approach to the economic crisis facing our country. And even more important, it demonstrates to the American people, that at a time of crisis, we can work together.

I want to commend Senator Ben Nelson for his leadership. He initiated this group of senators, which at times involved 20 senators working together, pooling their insights, their input and that is reflected in the compromise before us.

I also want to thank Arlen Specter, whose advice as we were going through these very difficult negotiations, was absolutely critical to our success.

And finally, my dear friend Joe Lieberman. I've been so fortunate to work with Joe on so many issues facing our country. And by coming together tonight, I believe we're making a real difference for the American people.

SEN. NELSON: Arlen.

SEN. SPECTER: I begin by congratulating my colleagues -- Senator Nelson, Senator Collins, Senator Lieberman -- for their leadership in taking on a job, which judging from the telephone calls I'm receiving, is a very unpopular one, but I think a very necessary one.

Some may argue that it's a bad bill. And notice, I'm not saying it is a bad bill, but some may argue it is, but I think no one could argue with the fact that the situation would be much worse without this bill.

Supplementing what my colleagues have said, I would focus on the psychological impact on what is happening in the economy in the world today. The loss of consumer confidence is largely psychological. I believe it's like the old Movietone News -- the eyes and the ears of the world are upon the United States, upon the United States government and really, tonight, upon the United States Senate.

And I think had we not -- if we do not act and act decisively and boldly, that the psychological impact would be felt beyond Wall Street to Main Street, but really on the face of the globe. And for those who say that we are spending too much money, I would point to the math.

If you start off with $985 billion and you add the 29.5 billion (dollars) added on the floor and you subtract the 781 (billion dollars) figure now, that's a saving of $145 billion and that's very, very material.

And to those at the other end of the political spectrum who say that we're not spending enough money and complain about the cuts, for example, in Title I on education, well it's not a cut. If this bill isn't passed, Title I doesn't get any additional money. If this bill is passed, they don't get the 5.5 billion (dollars) in the committee report, but they get 4.1 billion (dollars), so that's way ahead. If this bill is not passed, NIH gets nothing. If this bill is passed, it's 10 billion (dollars), creating 70,000 new jobs.

So I think we've taken a very necessary step. And in our positions -- especially on the Republican side -- you're on the edge of the pin, but that's the pay grade.

SEN. LIEBERMAN: Thanks, Arlen.

Very briefly: Just as the American people are tested every day in millions of ways by the economic crisis America's in now, the Congress -- the Senate -- is tested by that crisis. The question is, are we capable of leading? Are we capable of governing? Are we capable of providing the help that only the federal government can provide to kick start this economy, to protect or create millions of jobs?

Tonight, thanks to the bipartisan work done in the Senate, we could say that the Congress -- the Senate has also passed that test and given new hope of a better economic future to the American people.

The bill, as it will pass the Senate, will be stronger for the reasons my colleagues have said, and more efficient and more effective than the bill as it came to the floor. This would not have happened without a lot of hard work. And again, a gang was formed. As I said on the floor -- I'll hope for more laughs than I got on the floor -- when I was on a teenager, I never got to join a gang. Here in the Senate I've been able to join some great gangs. It shows if you live long enough, almost anything can happen to you.

But gangs in the Senate don't form unless there are leaders. The leaders of this gang -- we never numbered it. I call it the gang that wanted to get the economy moving again and create jobs. This gang was led by Senator Ben Nelson and Senator Susan Collins. It couldn't have happened without them. They had the guts to come forward and reach across party lines to form the bridge. They brought together a broad group of members of both parties. We worked hard. We all compromised and the result is legislation that will really help the American people.

I want to give special thanks and admiration to Senator Collins, Senator Specter, because Ben and I are basically with every member of the Democratic Caucus. They've chosen to separate themselves from the Republican Caucus, because they believe it's in the national interest to do so.

So while I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish, Ben, under your leadership, I'd say that Senator Collins and Senator Specter really deserve the Medal of Honor for what they've done here tonight. They've put national interest ahead of party interest. It's not easy. It's often lonely, but the American people will benefit from what they have helped us accomplish here in the Senate tonight.

Q I guess there's a threat of filibuster -- (off mike). Can you say how and when -- (off mike)?

SEN. LIEBERMAN: Well, that's obviously up to Senator Reid. But no question about it. I mean, we had hoped that once there were at least 60 votes, that those who oppose the compromise -- the bipartisan agreement -- would let it happen, because they can't stop it.

I regret that, apparently, there's some interest in delaying it, but that's their right. And it probably means that we'll have to go to a cloture vote, perhaps on Sunday.

Q Senator Collins, you mentioned on the floor that there were Republicans that dropped out of this effort. Do you anticipate that this is going to have a substantial amount of Republican support or is this just going to be the two of you or perhaps a few more?

SEN. COLLINS: We'll have to see. I don't anticipate that there will be a substantial number, but there are some of our colleagues who are taking a look at the details before us.

And I do want to emphasize that although some of the members of our group decided that they would not support the final package, they were very helpful in the deliberations -- Senator Martinez, Senator Murkowski, Senator Voinovich attended many of the meetings and helped to shape the final package.

I don't want to speak for any of my colleagues, as far as what their votes are going to be, but I'm hopeful that we may see a couple of more Republican votes.

Q Were you -- (off mike).

SEN. COLLINS: Of course.

Q Senator Nelson, would you just walk us through the math a little bit?

You have a $780 billion --

SEN. NELSON: Seven-hundred-eighty billion.

Q What do you do with the amendments that -- there are more than 30 billion (dollars) that's been added to the bill on the floor. What do you do with those?

SEN. NELSON: That will be something that the conference committee will have to work with, but we did not include them in the numbers that we were putting together, because the process would have never ended, because there's still more amendments that are going to be considered tonight and other times.

SEN. COLLINS: Including amendments to cut.

SEN. NELSON: Yes, including amendments that might cut.

SEN. COLLINS: It's both ways.

SEN. NELSON: Yeah, both ways.

Q I don't quite understand. Does that mean that the committee will pass amendments -- I mean, the Senate-passed amendments will be added to you 780 (billion dollars)?

SEN. NELSON: Not automatically. That will depend on what the conference committee --

Q I'm sorry, Senator. I mean coming out of the Senate and going to conference, the Senate-passed amendments will be part of this -- will be on top of your 780 (billion dollars)?

SEN. NELSON: Well, I suspect that it will, but it will be up to the committee to deal with it.

Q It's not a substitute, then, your bill. It's an amendment and they will add the amendments that have already passed.

SEN. SPECTER: No. It will be a substitute.

SEN. NELSON: It will be a substitute.

Q (Off mike.)

SEN. NELSON: It just doesn't include it.

Q (Off mike) -- will be added in?

SEN. LIEBERMAN: I expect that the amendments that have been passed -- Senator Isakson, Senator Mikulski, Senator Specter's -- for funding for NIH will be part of this package.

I mean, we only dealt with the bill as it came to the floor from a financing approach. What I'm proud of -- we cut $110 billion out of this program. A lot of programs are very popular, but we felt we had to do it to get some of the stuff that really doesn't belong in a stimulus package, but belongs in an appropriations bill, and frankly, to get the votes to get it passed! You can hold out for perfection, but if you can't get something passed, you're never going to help anybody.

SEN. SPECTER: There may be a difference of judgment on that. We have a bill that's an entire package and I think it is in the nature of a substitute, which displaces the bill and, I believe, the two amendments, which were expected. But the parliamentarian is the final arbiter of that.

Q What about the AMT patch?

SEN. COLLINS: That's in there.

SEN. NELSON: It's included.

Q What about the 30 billion (dollars) -- (off mike)?

SEN. SPECTER: What's the question?

Q The 30 billion (dollars) extra in infrastructure spending -- the Boxer amendment that -- (off mike)?

SEN. COLLINS: No.

SEN. LIEBERMAN: No.

SEN. NELSON: That's not there.

Q Senator Specter, you're the only Republican that's up in 2010. I imagine that I'm sure you're seeing the rightwing of your party as really going after you in a (small ?) way.

What do you say to those critics? I mean, you're about to take a really tough vote, but the rightwing is actually going to go after you. I mean, this is a tough race that you have in 2010.

SEN. SPECTER: Well, there are material risks in the position I'm taking, which may well impact in a primary. Those thoughts have not escaped my attention. And I believe that my duty is to follow my conscience and vote what I think is in the best interests of the country. And the political risks will have to abide.

Q Given how difficult this was to put together, how fragile is this agreement as it goes to conference, where you've got House members who have different ideas?

SEN. SPECTER: What's the question?

Q How fragile is the compromise as it goes into conference committee?

SEN. SPECTER: How fragile is it? I think we have a very solid bill. And nobody can predict exactly what's going to happen in conference. Bear in mind, we have to deal with the House of Representatives.

Q One time --

SEN. COLLINS: If I could just add to that: I for one have made no commitments on supporting a conference report, because I don't know what's going to come out of conference. And if a lot of the House expenditures that I viewed as wasteful are put back in by the conference committee, then I would feel compelled to vote against the conference report.

SEN. SPECTER: That's a very good point. We're going to be needed on the conference report.

SEN. LIEBERMAN: We need 60 votes to take up the conference committee report, so the conference committee can't stray too far from where this bill will pass the Senate.

SEN. NELSON: And I don't think this bill is that fragile. Quite honestly, with all the work that we've put in and the different iterations and the changes we've made and continue to change, I think we have a pretty strong bill that others are looking at now. And while it may not be the bill they would have written, I believe that this is a strong bill that they can support.

So I don't think it's fragile in any sense. It took awhile for us to put it together, but we were talking about hundreds of billions of dollars and a myriad of different kinds of line items -- some of which we supported, but didn't feel that it ought to be in this bill.

And after all that work, I don't -- and scrubbing and everything that we did -- I think we know quite a bit about this bill and I think others do too.

SEN. LIEBERMAN: Let me add one word briefly.

As you may have seen, Rahm Emanuel -- the chief of staff to the president -- came into the Democratic Caucus when we considered this compromise bipartisan proposal. And he spoke very strongly in favor of it, asking all Democrats to support it. And look, it's very close to the dollar number that President Obama has said he needed to get the economy moving again and protect and create jobs.

So that, I think, will also be in the minds of the conferees. Obviously, it's different. In some respects, President Obama proposed it, but I think it goes a long way toward achieving what he wants and what our colleagues in the House want. And therefore, I hope and believe it won't be changed much in conference.

SEN. COLLINS: Thank you.

SEN. NELSON: Thank you.

END.

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