Judd Gregg: “If I may follow up on the Senator's comments, it is obvious that the only person who can bring the bill down is the…”

“If I may follow up on the Senator's comments, it is obvious that the only person who can bring the bill down is the Democratic leader, if that is his choice. His choice appears to be based on the fact that he doesn't want to vote on the second look at waste amendment or enhanced rescission, which is tied into this bill. As I mentioned earlier, almost 30 percent of the amendments offered have dealt with earmarks, and half of the time of the debate here in the last 8 days has been on earmarks. So it is not as if this is something that is totally off track or truly outside the realm. This isn't a farm amendment on the lobbying bill; this is a lobbying amendment on the lobbying bill. It doesn't have germaneness because that is a very narrow test, but it is sure relevant and on point. It clearly deals with earmarks, and it also deals within appropriate actions from lobbyists who get earmarks into the bills and bury them in omnibus bills. That is the purpose. So the idea that this amendment is some sort of poison pill to the bill, it wasn't offered for that purpose and doesn't have that as its purpose. The Republican membership is ready to go forward and vote and is ready to either win or lose on this amendment. The language of the assistant Democratic leader is such that it sounds to me as if maybe they don't want the bill. Maybe they concluded they don't want the bill because they are the only ones talking about pulling the bill down.”