I think there is a consent in effect that Senator Baucus would control a half hour and Senator Schumer would control a half hour of the time. If not, I ask unanimous consent that that be so. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without…

This will provide an extra 2 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois.

Yes. I will file cloture on the 9/11 situation in New York, the firefighters negotiation matter. The third would be the DREAM Act, and the fourth would be giving seniors a $250 COLA. Mr. McCONNELL. And those votes would occur on Wednesday?

Following leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Last night, I filed cloture motions on two tax cut amendments. Those votes are expected to occur tomorrow…

Mr. President, I had hoped we would be able to come to agreement with Republicans to hold votes today to protect middle-class families. But the Republican caucus would not agree, so we will have a series of votes tomorrow on the tax rates…

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

Mr. President, would my friend, the distinguished chairman of the Finance Committee, yield?

Mr. President, I think it is appropriate that everyone be notified there will be no rollcall votes today. We are still working on what time it will be tomorrow. But we, as everyone knows and I have said here--this is the third time--we…

Mr. President, I have been in touch with Senator McConnell, and he knows I am asking this consent agreement. I ask unanimous consent that at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, December 4, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke…

Mr. President, this is a time that virtually no one is happy with. Someone wanted it late, someone wanted it early. As I indicated to Lula Davis, we just split the baby in half. This is the best we can do. Make as many people happy as we…

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and offer my condolences for the passing of a great Nevadan, Velma Bishop. A naturalized U.S. citizen from Canada, Velma labored diligently in many charitable and civic opportunities and programs…

I have an amendment to my instructions at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 4730 to amendment No. 4729.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to H.J. Res. 101, which is the 2-week continuing resolution; that the joint resolution be read three times, passed; the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; and any…

Mr. President, we have worked hard today trying to be at a point where we could be further down the road than we are. I know the Republican leader has worked hard to try to get to a point where we could have the four amendments that people…

I have a cloture motion which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to rule XXII, the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The legislative clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in…

On that I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Cloture Motion

Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4853 with an amendment which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator…

Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House with respect to H.R. 4853. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate a message from the House as follows: H.R. 4853 Resolved, That the House agree to the…