Madam President, I am observing it exactly the same way. I said before that we have a very honest relationship in terms of where we can find that common ground, and it is in this arena. As the Senator from Oklahoma has pointed out, he reads the Constitution and I read the Constitution. He has said many times--and he has addressed people who have heard the Senator say this--that this is a constitutional responsibility to make sure we have roads, bridges, highways, and we can move interstate commerce. From my perspective, not only do I agree with that, but I also think it is a very important way while we are taking care of the people to see that people have good, decent jobs, and that businesses prosper. We have never had a problem working together on this. I hope our working together brings liberals, conservatives, moderates, and everybody in between to tonight's votes. I don't know what the vote is going to be, I would say to my dear friend, but I do know this. The House is saying through their whip that they are leaving. Well, that is up to them. We all know, from the Association of General Contractors, it is stated right here that in 25 States we are seeing layoffs right now in the construction arena because we have not acted. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that their statement be printed in the Record.…
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I say to my friend, she is so smart on this. Of course that is where we are headed. And I encourage this. If this happens and the Senator and I are not successful and this winds up to be the law of the land--a provision added in the dead…
Madam President, I love my colleague. However, the White House strongly opposes this rider, and we have it in clear writing. They issued that notice. They didn't issue a veto because, as Senator Stabenow points out, they are torn. But…
The Senate is not in order. I can't hear. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate will be in order.
Madam President, I want to thank the Senator from Oregon very much. He gets it. We are united on this. We hope our colleagues hear our plea that if we can get rid of this rider, we will have a magnificent bill that was worked on by so…





