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"The representatives of the people . . . ought to hold the purse-strings," argued Constitutional Convention delegate Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts. Gerry, a future member of the Committee on Ways and Means, equated the Senate with Britain's House of Lords and raised the historical objection to granting the upper house the power to initiate money bills. Delegates struck a compromise that distilled more than 150 years of legislation experience: The House of Representatives would originate revenue bills; the Senate would have the power to reject or amend them. |
