On the recordJune 29, 2012
Before the Senator from Indiana leaves the floor, I wish for him to know I listened very carefully and I know his concern. I have spoken with Senator Durbin about it, and I hope we can work together. I do want to say this process where sometimes bills are put together is frustrating to everybody, and we do need to take a look at the way we do things. However, I do have some measure of sympathy for the leadership around here because it takes so long to get any one piece done. So I do agree. I don't like the fact that we cast one vote and there are three subjects. It is very difficult for the people at home to understand it. I also want to say to my friend--before I yield 3 minutes of my time to Senator Sanders--to feel proud of the way we put together the Transportation bill. I think in that case, which is a huge policy bill, it was transparent and that what my friend complained about was something that was put in by the other body and said it is a must have. The truth is, up to that point, everything we have done was very much in the open, and I am very sorry my friend feels so negatively toward what we are about to do because in his State it is tens of thousands of jobs and in my State it is hundreds of thousands of jobs. It is thousands of businesses. It is going to mean a boost to this economy and a boost to the private sector. I wish to say to my friend, I understand his frustration, and I will do everything I can to help him on this issue.
