On the recordMarch 8, 2012
I am very happy to see we are making progress. I still continue to believe that these controversial amendments did not have to be on this bill. But having said that, we have our agreement. So our understanding is, I want for all Senators to say our hope is to begin voting sometime around the 2 to 2:30 timeframe and to do a great number of votes at that time, maybe as many as 8, 9, 10 votes. We are waiting for people to come to the floor to speak on different amendments. We expect that Senator Hoeven will be here shortly to call up amendment No. 1537. We urge him to do that. Senator Merkley wants to speak on the underlying bill. Senator Corker wants to speak for 10 minutes at approximately 12:45. Senator Inouye would like to address us for 10 minutes about one. Senator Lautenberg wants to speak about the environmental amendments about 1:15, and Senator Landrieu wants to talk about a number of things but particularly the RESTORE Act, I would assume, at 1:15. Senator Sanders wants to speak on the issue of Keystone. Senator Durbin also has some comments he wanted to make. So I would urge colleagues, if you wish to speak before we start voting, now would be a very good time. We hope you will come over here. We are making progress. This has been a very convoluted process, a very difficult process to satisfy everyone. Of course, we cannot satisfy everyone.…





