I think that is an excellent idea. I like the idea that it would be in a stepwise fashion reduced to a simple majority over the course of about a week or so.

This is not a radical idea. It is the constitutional option.

I would hope that we get away from that sort of tit for tat kind of thing.

Senator Lott offered to work with us, and, along with Senator Byrd, we crafted a proposal that was more workable and enforceable.

Mr. President, I have not listened to every speech on the Senate floor in the last week or so where there has been a lot of talk about secret holds and everything. But since I have been in the Senate working with Senator Wyden in a…

What I object to is not the use of holds, because I do that myself, but the word 'secret' in secret holds.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 10 or 12 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate return to legislative session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

So, over a decade ago, as Senator Wyden has said, we started with a simple proposed rule that any Senator placing a hold must publish that hold in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, Senator Wyden is correct. I would add this point, that not only is it transparency that is essential--and it happens that way--but also a lot of times holds are put on because there is something wrong. We have to know what…

The three of us, Mr. Chairman, just want to bring some transparency to the practice of holds in the Senate.

Mr. President, the Senator is correct. The present rules are practically not much better than what we have always operated under. So there isn't transparency, and it isn't done soon enough.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 3231 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of…

Mr. President, today Americans are observing Equal Pay Day. It is the date that marks the 110 extra days that women must work into 2010 in order to equal what men earned in 2009. In 1963, responding to the fact that the 25 million female…

I would like to express my appreciation to Senators Udall and Risch for their leadership in addressing insect and disease issues.

Mr. President, first, I don't know what the order is for the Senate. I was going to speak on one of the nominations that will be before the Senate shortly. I wish to do that, if that is appropriate. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that William Storm of my Finance Committee staff be granted privileges of the floor for the duration of the 111th Congress. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Reserving the right to object. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Iowa.