Dianne Feinstein

So anyone who doesn't meet the specific confines of the Senator's bill would be forced to lose their job; is that correct?

It is an honor to take the floor today as the new chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to help lead the battle for meaningful and credible ethics reform. In the last election, the message was loud and clear: It is time…

This bill has passed the Senate before by a vote of 90 to 8. It offers the opportunity for the Senate to come together, in a bipartisan way, and pass lobbying reforms, some ethics reform, some earmarks reform, and take a real step together…

Except what you are doing is effectively exempting, then, a call from outside into the United States because of the change in technology.

I would like to look very closely at this bill. I am very reluctant to move right now. You have mentioned the case percolating up through the courts now. I am really unsure why passage of this bill now would achieve anything. It seems to…

I thank the Senator. He has been a very distinguished chairman of the committee. This is an issue in which, as a member of the Intelligence Committee and Judiciary Committee, I have had an intense interest. The Senator from Pennsylvania…

If I may, a second question: Will this bill allow the President to use his plenary authority to wiretap outside of FISA, first, and secondly, will it allow for program authority for wiretaps?

I think the chairman has shown great leadership and flexibility. This is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. It takes good care of veterans. It eliminates the problem of financing that we had last year. Overall, it is an excellent bill…

I applaud the initiative of the residents of Yellowstone County, and I can assure the distinguished Senator from Montana that I will work in conference on this bill to include language in the Statement of Managers directing the Secretary…

I am aware that there is a need for more veterans cemeteries nationwide. I would be very interested in hearing about the situation in Montana.

And I don't see this being an easy confirmation unless there is a change in strategy and unless he's willing to come forward with that change in strategy.

I actually believe, if I might respond, that there are 60 votes because of the amendments that we made in Judiciary--which certainly brought me along, and I wasn't there before.

It seems to me that the best way to approach this is with an identity document that is biometric.

I think that the Hagel-Martinez scenario, which I voted for, is not really workable because it creates another subclass of people.

We do not have the ability to deport 11 or 12 million. We do not have the ability to deport 5 million.

I want to just share with you my views as somebody that represents the State with the largest number of immigrants, both legal and illegal.

Alan Simpson was the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee for a number of years.

I thank Senator Gregg. I know Senator Kyl is going to come to the floor and speak on the amendment as well. I do not see him at this time.

But that it would be acceptable for me to speak on the pending business, which is the flag amendment. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I would respond just for a brief moment. I believe the total cost of World War II was $210 billion in real dollars. The cost thus far of just Iraq has been $320 billion; and if we include Afghanistan, my understanding is it is about $370…

My understanding is Senator Kennedy has 10 minutes. Would the Senator like to use that time now?

May I be clear as to what I just asked unanimous consent for: that the Presiding Officer allows the time against the amendment to run, and I reserve the remainder of my time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so…

That is exactly the point. It is a theoretical plan. For those who live in big immigration States, who live this problem daily, who see the people and their families--many have bought homes, pay taxes, their children are born here and go…

I can speak for California, and California's Farm Bureau has signed off on this. I can tell the Senator that no State has as many farmers and growers as California does. This is the accepted agreement. I thank the Senator.

Is it not true that when I introduced the blue card program in the Judiciary Committee I just took that part of the H-2A program which the Senator and Senator Kennedy had put together in the AgJOBS bill?