Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to make my request. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Louisiana.

Madam President, I have just been told a Republican colleague objects to this. I don't understand why. I don't think it is a constitutional objection. I don't know the reason. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is out of time.

Again, that is treating us differently than other Federal employees. That would be a tax writeoff.

Madam President, I want say I object to the Vitter-Toomey bill. I am not going to pay China before I pay people. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator has no time. The Senator's time has expired.

This legislation, as drafted, does not increase or decrease the salary. If you withhold it, and if the President felt that was a violation, he himself would have to challenge it.

We did check this with legal counsel, and they told us that the legislation, as drafted, does not increase or diminish the annual salary of the President. It withholds pay during a shutdown or failure to raise the debt ceiling. There are…

Certainly. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. We will get the provision and read it to you.

So would I be correct if I said that if someone objects, we would know who that individual is so we can speak with that individual? You said there are provisions. Could you be more specific about that? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. If…

It is a tax writeoff to give to charity. All I am saying is that is certainly another option if my friend wanted to change it. I just think it is simple. We just want to be treated the same as other Federal employees, and that is how I…

Madam President, I think the managers are aware that I am going to make a unanimous consent request shortly on a bill that deals with Members' pay in the event of a government shutdown. I have been told we are waiting to see--there is…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Members' Pay

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator does not have enough time under her control to suggest the absence of a quorum. The Senator from Louisiana.