I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for such time as I shall consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 3358

There are three very worrisome provisions in this bill. One is the Medicare Advisory Board that the Senator from Arizona just talked about that will decide what gets paid for and what does not, and Congress will either have to agree to it…

Madam President, I thank my colleague from Florida. I, along with Senator Barrasso, attended the summit with the President. If I recall his words, we were going to take 4 to 6 weeks to see if we couldn't work out some compromises to get a…

The one problem with the $500 billion worth of cuts, if you read what the CBO said about that, they said it is highly unlikely Congress will ever effectuate those cuts. If that is true, then that means there is $500 billion in costs that…

Mr. President, I am going to spend a few minutes talking about an amendment I have, No. 3358, which has already been pending, but I think, first, it is important for us to know that last year we borrowed $4 billion a day in this country…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 3358, that it be pending, and then set it aside.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To require the Senate to be transparent with…

I ask again unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 3358, and immediately after it is called up it be set aside. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as…

This is an amendment that discusses the amount that the Secretary of the Senate will put up on our Web site, the amount of new programs; that we publish the total amount of spending, discretionary and mandatory, passed by the Senate that…

I thank my colleague from Montana. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana is recognized. Amendment No. 3342 to Amendment No. 3336 (Purpose: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on excessive…

Mr. President, I cannot express how frustrated I am with Washington politics, as a result of, I believe, irresponsible behavior on the part of Democrats and Republicans, in the House and in the Senate. The Federal Highway Administration…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, this afternoon it is my understanding we are going to have one more vote. It is going to be on the Travel Promotion Act. I have opposed this in the past. I have already voted against it three times. I am not going to hang…

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce The Small System Drinking Water Act of 2009. This is the third Congress that I have introduced this bill which would assist water systems throughout the country comply with the ever growing number…

Mr. President, I have no real strong feelings about this bill other than that I do not think this country needs to create another corporation, a corporation that would be authorized to impose an annual assessment on U.S. members of the…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I ask unanimous consent that at the conclusion of the remarks of the Senator from New Hampshire, I be recognized for up to 3 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.