i would like to work with senator feinstein and senator bingaman and find a way to put out a -- place to put our nuclear waste permanent. we are closed down yucca milton. we need a permanent repository. we need to work across party lines to do that. i believe we can do that. >> we've seen bipartisan efforts in the spring and summer, most notably the gang of six trying to get a big debt deal. they got a lot of attention. 36 are supportive. they never followed through. they do not have a legislative draft of their language. they're not close to putting something on the floor for a vote. how do you go from the debate society view of what should happen to actually getting something accomplished? >> people who have not been a part of the senate do not understand it operates by unanimous consent. each senator has about the same amount of influence. what i can do is make it easier for them to succeed. when the gang of six announced its report, i endorsed it. it is a small thing, but it helped get credibility. i joined the 37 senators who urged them to go as big as they can. when you get 1/3

senator bingaman? >> thank you very much. and i thank you all for being here to talk to us today. i guess a question i'd just still like a little more clarification on as congress approaches this whole idea of tax reform, do we need to raise additional revenue? and i gather, mr. kleinbard says we do need to raise additional revenue. i understand chairman greenspan to be saying we do. i believe that's my interpretation. i believe the rest of you have said, we do not or maybe we do. i don't know. dr. feldstein maybe you could clarify -- you're nodding your head. >> my view is that if we eliminate or cap, which is my preference tax expenditures, we should use -- y'all should use some of that money to reduce deficits and some of it to reduce marginal tax rates. >> so we should raise additional revenue and it's just a question of how we use the additional revenue? >> well, if you eliminate tax expenditures you automatically raise revenue. >> right. >> the question is, do you give it all back in the form of lower rates? or do you use some of it -- >> and your view is we should give some

bingaman: mr. ewe mr. bingaman: at the time i came to the senate, mark hatfield had already served here for 16 years. for the next 14 years we were colleagues and friends here in the senate. his retirement in 1997 was an occasion for regret on behalf of all of us who knew him and admired him. he set a very high standard for service in the u.s. senate. he was a master of the complex spending and tax issues that are the weekly focus of most senate work. of course, in his role as chairman of the appropriations committee, he was respected and appreciated for his fair-minded consideration of requests from all senators, democrat and republican and independent. he was a model of civility and of kindness, and he took a genuine interest in the well-being of those with whom he worked, both senators and staff and really all of those who work to keep the senate functioning. he had a heartfelt commitment to seeking nonmilitary solutions to our nation's problems around the world. and his votes, including his votes again

senator bingaman?y much and thank all of you for being here to talk with us today -- >> thank you very much and thank you all for being here today to talk with us. i would like a little more clarification on as congress approaches this whole idea of tax reform, do we need to raise additional revenue? and mr. klein are says we do need to raise additional revenue. i understand chairman greenspan to be saying we do. i believe -- that is my interpretation. and the rest of you have said we do not, or maybe we do. dr. feldstein, maybe we you could -- maybe you could clarify. >> my view is that if we eliminate, or cap -- which is my preferences -- tax expenditures, we should spend some of that money to reduce deficits and some of it to reduce marginal tax rate. >> we should raise additional revenue, but it is a question of how we use the additional revenue. >> if you reduce tax expenditures, you automatically raise revenues. the question is, do you give it all back in the form of lower rates? >> and your view