Should end users who are hedging financial risk be given an exemption?

I did not vote for Dodd-Frank for several reasons, but one central concern was that the rules outlined in the legislation would have the effect of driving business overseas.

Mr. President, shortly we will be voting on final passage of the MILCON-VA appropriations bill. I would like to thank Leaders Reid and McConnell and Chairman Inouye and Vice Chairman Cochran for their leadership and support in getting us…

I ask for the yeas and nays on passage of the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll.

I think our colleagues in the House have shown us the way. They passed this last night. They have given us an opportunity now to have this vote, and it is long overdue. In my view--and I think the numbers bear this out--this is not a…

What is remarkable about that is when I first got here, there was a vote in the Senate in 1997. We didn't have the opportunity to vote on it in the House of Representatives, although I think we could have passed it with a two-thirds…

Absolutely. I say to my colleague from New Hampshire that the cut, cap, and balance approach is the correct way to approach this problem, because it makes cuts to spending today--real cuts--this year, to this year's budget. It caps…

I have been coming to the floor for several weeks to talk about the need to restrain spending and cut our deficit. As we look at the next few days, we are going to have an opportunity to debate something that does that. We are going to be…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with the Senator from New Hampshire. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

To the point the Senator from Kansas was making, he talks about higher interest rates and the impact of not dealing with the fiscal circumstances in which the country finds itself. Look at what is happening in Europe. Three-year government…

Mr. President, I appreciate the good words of my colleague from Kansas. He comes from a State where they understand that the role of the government should be limited. They understand the importance of living within your means, of not…

Mr. President, I would like to yield to Senator Kirk for any final remarks he may have. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to return to morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.

Mr. President, what is the pending business? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is on agreeing to the Vitter amendment.

Mr. President, I am hopeful that the Senate will be able to complete action on the MILCON-VA appropriations bill today. Members have had ample opportunity to offer amendments, staff has been working to clear them, and I believe we now have…

Do you think it is fair for states, many who are faced with serious budget shortfalls, to take the financial hit for a mistake that FMCSA made?

Thank you, and I thank the gentlelady for yielding to me today. I certainly appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only as a proud Republican woman as well, as my good colleague from Kansas said, but also as a wife and as a mother…