let me speak for just a few minutes in response to my colleague from Colorado because earlier today I offered an amendment which, as I gather, it would accomplish essentially the same thing as the amendment of the Senator from Colorado. My…

this amendment is a reprise of what we did last year in offering to reform the estate tax, sometimes referred to as the death tax. Now, in the budget itself, and in an amendment that has been offered by the other side, there is a provision…

I believe it was during a March 4, 2007, interview on ``60 Minutes'' when the distinguished chairman said: I believe, first of all, that we need more revenue. Now I won't pretend that I know the exact context in which this statement was…

Because I respect the Senator so much and was sure he would tell us what the context was, No. 1. No. 2, I certainly agree with the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee on both of the subsequent two comments: one, that we should…

The U.S. Treasury estimates that the estate tax reduces bequests by 14 percent. Individuals are either choosing to save less or rely heavily on estate planning, which is a large deadweight loss to the economy. The death tax costs more…

I would actually put it the other way around. Especially in times of economic difficulties--and I think we all agree that our economy is not in great shape right now; there is a discussion that we may even be in or very close to a…

So in conclusion, the bottom line is, we have a bill passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee 13 to 2, passed by the Senate with 68 affirmative votes. I believe it was 28 or 29 negative votes-- clearly, a bipartisan effort. The…

It has now been 20 days since the law that allows us to collect foreign intelligence abroad has lapsed. We are without the authority we need to collect intelligence against our terrorist enemy. The law expired February 16. The Senate…

Certainly I respect the majority leader's comments. He talked about the fact that violence is down in Iraq. But, of course, the suicide bombers continue to wreak havoc. We all deplore that. I was in Israel last week at the border town in…

The primary item was a letter that had been sent to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee by Attorney General Mukasey and Admiral McConnell, the Director of National Intelligence. It was a letter that tried to explain the…

I am a little confused. About an hour and a half ago the majority leader brought up a bill. He and the Senator from Wisconsin had filed this bill to leave Iraq in 120 days. And he filed cloture on that to see whether enough Senators would…

Finally, Mr. President, the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral McConnell, was on a television program in which he made some points related to this issue. Among other things, he said: We cannot do this mission, we cannot do this…

first of all, I will address an amendment to the underlying Indian health bill. It is amendment No. 3897, offered by my friend from Oregon. It is an amendment which I hope my colleagues will reject. This is an amendment that deals with the…

let me make just a few comments in response to the Senator from North Dakota. First of all, I commend him for his work on this bill, as well as the Senator from Alaska, who has worked very hard to get this bill in a position where it could…

the first question I have is: Could the intelligence community acquire new targets, if the Protect America Act expires, without going to the FISA Court for some kind of an additional warrant? Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, it is my…

I would like to explain briefly the reasons I think we should vote against that reauthorization. There are two primary reasons. First has to do with the additional provision that was passed neither by the House nor by the Senate but was…

We have thousands of young men and women who volunteer to serve their country. What would we think if part of that service means getting sued by somebody? Wouldn't we provide them protection from those kinds of lawsuits? Obviously, we…

today we are debating the amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. I am going to say a few words about why Congress ought to provide legal relief to those private entities that have aided the United States in our war…

first, let me say that one of the points made by my dear friend from New Mexico is backward. We need to deal with this issue in a speedy fashion. There is one point that unites everybody with regard to this stimulus package: If it is not…

After reviewing the relevant documents, the Intelligence Committee determined that providers had acted in response to written requests or directives stating that the activities had been authorized by the President and had been determined…

I do not believe that tax rebate checks and an extension of unemployment benefits will boost the economy. Of course, Americans deserve to keep more of their hard-earned dollars and Washington should spend less of them. But giving people…

next, I would like to quote a few passages from this letter that relate specifically to this issue of liability protection. They begin by noting: Liability protection is the just result for companies who answered their Government's call…

Since we have had this discussion, let me take no more than 4 minutes. I will join the Senator in the pride he has for the Giants and their wonderful victory in my home State of Arizona yesterday. I hope a good time was had by all…

on January 21, the Nation recognized the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is important that we honor this day and that we do not let the significance of Dr. King fade from our memories, as individuals and as a nation. I…

I also wish to pick up on what our Republican leader has just been talking about: that we can, with bipartisanship, accomplish a great deal in this Senate and that there is no better place to start than on the Foreign Intelligence…