Senate Proceeding on Jan 26th, 2009 :: 3:07:30 to 3:13:30
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3:07:27 to 3:07:48( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: together, to help this good man try to bring our country back to financial security once again. mr. grassley: madam president? the presiding officer: senator grassley from mr. grassley: madam president, thank you. for at least as long as

3:07:30 to 3:13:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Chuck Grassley

3:07:49 to 3:08:10( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: baucus and i have served as leaders of the finance committee and certainly during the times that i was chairman, all individuals nominated by the president who were subject to the jurisdiction of the finance committee have been subject to a very thorough and very nonpartisan vetting process. in addition to filling out a detailed committee

3:08:11 to 3:08:31( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: questionnaire, all nominees submit tax returns and the committee is provided with financial disclosures. the review of these has nothing to do with the nominee's political philosophy, affiliation, or policy goals. the finance committee's

3:08:32 to 3:08:53( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: nomination ensure basic compliance with the law and to confirm that these individuals can be trusted with the incredible responsibilities that come wit public servi my vote on a vote of confidence in the finance committee's vetting process. it is a vote for the importance

3:08:54 to 3:09:15( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: of character and integrity and those specifically, it is a vote for treating presidential nominees and all people in a manner. this nominee is not the first nominee to run aground on the finance committee's vetting process. there are other individuals who,

3:09:16 to 3:09:37( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: after lengthy discussions senator baucus, this senator, and a bipartisan committee staff decided to withdraw from consideration. in these situations, the finance committee keeps detailed keeps details learns during that

3:09:38 to 3:09:58( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: vetting process very priva in cases where the nominee decides to go forward such as this, such as of the committee makes details public in the interests of transparency and good government. i believe the public's business ought to be public.

3:09:59 to 3:10:19( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: sometimes when details are disclosed, the nominee is confirmed and sometimes the nominee is not confirmed. in these situations, members have to judge the seriousness of the issues at hand and the nominees have to judge how far they are willing to go.

3:10:20 to 3:10:41( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: consequently, if the nominee decides to move ahead, the information will be we did in the case of this nominee. however, in the past would had tax issues as serious as this have had less serious issues have not attained senate confirmation.

3:10:42 to 3:11:02( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: i feel that it is improper to judge this nominee by any different standard even considering the economic crisis this country is in. i realize that economic times are tough right but if anything, that should be an incentive for us to rse our

3:11:03 to 3:11:25( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: standards and not to lower them. finally, i believe that we also need to treat all nominees in a internal revenue code applies to everyone regardless of whether someone is well-known on wall street or a college student many people around the country

3:11:26 to 3:11:47( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: who have not satisfied their tax obligations have been caught by the i.r.s. as this nominee was for the tax years of 2003 and 2004. many people end up having their houseseized, bank accounts frozen, and other assets taken by tax debt.

3:11:48 to 3:12:10( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: some people even go to jail -- in the case of fraud. there are many people who settle their liabilities without going to jail or having assets seid but can this system operate with integrity if all parts of it report to someone who is unable for a long period of time to meet his own tax obligations and

3:12:11 to 3:12:33( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: only did so as a condition of his nomination? finally, i want differences of perception. i want to emphasize this, differences of perception of different people who have been found to have unsettled tax liabilities. during last year's presidential campaign, we read a lot about a

3:12:34 to 3:12:56( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: man named joe the plumber who hailed from ohio. when this man a tax lien for state taxes some portrayed it as evidence that his opinion on national tax policy was irrelevant. however, this problems have b be much larger than joe the

3:12:57 to 3:13:17( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: plumber defenders the only man for the job o turry secretary. i ask unanimous treasury secretary. i ask unanimous consent that an article discussing this inconsistency appearing in the "national printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection.

3:13:18 to 3:13:31( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: madam president. i don't make this decision on the vote toda lightly. but as i've said,