On the recordSeptember 21, 2010
I wish to thank Senator Brown for his service on the committee. He has been invaluable to the committee, and I very much appreciate that. The Senator's statement that he favors an open process is one that I share. That is why I talked to the majority leader, and the majority leader made a statement last Thursday which I hope the Senator from Massachusetts would look at relative to the process. The majority leader has talked about a number of amendments which he would like to see offered and would intend to offer. That is his right, as it is the right of any Senator. Last year, we adopted the hate crimes bill, which was a nonrelevant amendment. There was some objection to it. Many years ago, when the Senator from Arizona offered a campaign finance amendment to the Defense authorization bill--totally nonrelevant--Senator Warner, sitting right over here, very much objected to it. He said it would sink the bill. It did not sink the bill, by the way; it was passed by the Senate--nonrelevant. And we have adopted other nonrelevant amendments on this bill and other bills because the rules of the Senate allow for nonrelevant amendments. As to whether this process is going to be open to other amendments, I assure the Senator from Massachusetts it will be, and I will make sure I do everything in my power to see that happens.
