Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. TESTER. I thank Senator Wicker for his remarks, and I rise to share a few words also about the debt and about the bipartisan tax cut compromise we will vote on this evening. Before I get into these remarks, I wish to thank Senators WARNER and CHAMBLISS for their good work in putting together a group of Senators to help address this issue in a bipartisan way.

As far as the compromise tonight, I look forward to voting for this compromise. It is a matter of creating jobs and rebuilding the economy. I think the bill does that. Is it a compromise plan I would have written? No. But it does cut taxes for the folks who need tax relief the most--middle-class families, small businesses, family farmers and ranchers. They are the real job creators in this country, and aiming tax relief at them required compromise and working together, and it happened. It is a victory for all Montanans and especially all Americans.

I wish to point out another example of working together. Over the past few days, a number of my colleagues--Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, 22 in all--teamed up to put forth the resolution we hope will be a part of this package we will vote on tonight. This resolution puts all of us on record expressing our deep concerns about the unsustainable path of this country's debt and showing our commitment to working together to dig ourselves out of the ditch we are in. To do that, any plan will have to have tax reform, spending cuts, and deficit reduction. It is not going to be an easy process. In order to have a serious debate about cutting our debt, we are going to need to make some tough decisions and not just pay lipservice or play political games.

Much like the report of the President's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, there are a lot of things Members of this group and of this body are not going to like in any potential plan. But what is important here is that all of these Members are serious about putting this country on a sustainable path and are committed to devising and voting on a plan to do that within the next 12 months. It is that important an issue.

This is, hands down, the most important issue this Senate will deal with over the next few years--putting our Nation's economy on a sustainable path to control this country's debt and to offer opportunity for the future. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue, as I know they share my same commitment to getting something done.

The truth is, we are not going to be able to get anywhere unless we trust one another. This process isn't going to be pleasant for anyone, but we can be successful if we have a bipartisan effort. This bipartisan resolution is more than just lipservice; it is a plan to move forward together.

I yield the floor to my friend, the Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Johanns.

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