they contend that with everything they have and the technology available, they have reached that limit.

With 9.1 percent unemployment, that is not what I call successful.

EPA's new regulations will force American energy companies to lay off over 250,000 workers.

My problem with that is, that is one rule at a time. I am talking about the cumulative effect.

I will always remember the first thing I said after the 2010 elections, when it came in, I said, I just want you to know I am going to be just as nice to you 2 years from now as you are to me.

the effects of the economy, I spent a lot of time in Africa.

How much time remains for the Republicans in morning business? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 15 minutes 20 seconds.

Madam President, may I make an inquiry of the Chair? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. President, we have introduced into the Record the industry that gets this tax credit--they represent 97 percent of all of the ethanol that is blended--does not want the $3 billion. They say it is not a disruption to them, and, in fact…

I thank the Chair. These are interesting days in our country. We find ourselves in a very deep hole, and it is not the fault of the people; it is the fault of the Congress. We continue to spend money we do not have on things we do not…

I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, the reason this amendment ended up the way it is, is because we don't have an open amendment process in the Senate anymore. Rule XXII gives every Senator the right to offer an amendment. We have no Senate unless we have the…

But ATF did permit those knowingly, understanding they were headed toward the border, and that was well-known...

This has to be a very difficult day, and not a day that you had ever hoped to be testifying in front of a congressional hearing.

So if we're doing a grant for a certain project that denotes some research to something out there, at the end of it we can also say, this was allotted, here is how it was spent, and here's the final paper that was presented at the end of…

Would the Senator define what a subsidy is to him, because part of the problem with the debate is that we keep saying ``subsidies.'' We don't have subsidies--not in the Senator's State or in Oklahoma. We have accelerated depreciation…

Mr. President, I had a good time this afternoon listening to the debate on the amendment I have offered and visiting with Senators. I think there is an important distinction that needs to be made in the arguments that have been brought…

Mr. President, let me make a couple of points. When the Federal Government writes a tax credit, that means we take money from our Treasury, which is empty; therefore, we borrow it, and we write a check to people. When we have an…