I wish to congratulate Senator McConnell and Senator Reid for leading us in this way. Changing rules is an important step forward. I do not in any way want to diminish what I believe we are about to do, but we need a change in behavior more than we need a change in rules. This debate has caused us to talk across party lines about what we want, and I think what we want is what Senator Udall said as a whole. We would like most bills to come through committee and then come to the floor. We want to have a chance for most Senators to be able to offer most of their amendments and then to get votes. That is what we should try to do most of the time. Sometimes the Republicans will want to repeal the health care law, and the Democrats will use all of their resources to defeat our efforts. Sometimes the Democrats in the House will send over a bill to repeal the secret ballot in union elections, and Republicans will try to defeat that. We will use all of our resources in those instances. But that won't be most of the time. Most of the time, we will be able to do our jobs better to represent the people who sent us here.
Editor's note · Context
The speaker discusses the need for behavioral change in the Senate and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.
Share
More from Heidi Alexander
I thank the Senator from Ohio for his courtesy, as well as his leadership. I will not be long. (The remarks of Mr. Alexander pertaining to the introduction of S. 4284 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and…
I’m an overweight 51 year old woman, and what we’re doing through this cycling and walking investment strategy is about how we get, frankly, people like me to be a little bit more active.
This is a signal of the importance the government places on the need for expansion and will be an important additional factor in the planning balance.
I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized to speak for as long as I may require. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________





