Mike Levin

After Senator McCain is done, we would then seek to sequence the Senator from New York immediately after the Senator from Arizona.

If the Senator will allow a comment on that, we are not confined to that at all. I expect, when I ask questions of the Senator from Virginia or others who oppose this amendment, that their answers would come from my time and not from their…

I wonder, as the alternative now comes to us, whether we could let Senator Harkin first go before Senator Enzi. On the other hand, if it is your turn in rotation, then we would have no objection.

What we are dealing with is a historic use of no-bid contracts, where billions of dollars have been spent. There is good evidence they have been misspent in many ways, and there is a huge amount of waste and abuse. I agree with my good…

We believe there are a number of amendments which will need debate. It would be useful for all Senators on either Monday or Tuesday morning, if they could, to let us know what amendments they are planning on offering so we could get an…

There is one Senator Jack Reed and I are working on, and I think there is one Senator Kerry is working on. I can't speak for others. There may be a number of amendments on this side.

I wouldn't want to speak for the Senator from Massachusetts. I do believe, though, he is working on an amendment. There will be at least two amendments on this side relative to Iraq.

Then we could perhaps pick up the debate on the Dorgan amendment on Monday after the debate on the judge.

I was hoping the Senator was referring to Iraq, but since he is referring to our bill, I also see that we ought to be able to finish this next week. We will have a good debate on Iraq, I guess probably next Tuesday. Next Monday, I believe…

On your side of the aisle. After Senator Dorgan offered his today, it would then go to your side of the aisle to offer the next amendment, if we want to keep that informal order which has been established.

I am on that committee, as you pointed out. I know the workload they have. Just yesterday, they completed a markup on one bill which took 2 days. I don't know of any people who work harder in the Senate than do Senator Collins and Senator…

There have been requests--I believe from the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee--to get into this. And if the chairman would be willing to sign a letter with me making another request to that chairman to try to find time in either…

That is exactly right. I have been there throughout my tenure. I am personally familiar with the work they have undertaken. But if Senator Warner would be willing to sign a request to Senator Collins, I would be delighted to join in that.

If we are unable do that on our committee, which we have not been able to do anything that needs to be done here--and I understand the time pressures on the committee because of this annual bill we have; I know what is on the plate over at…

Also, I ask unanimous consent, I believe with the agreement of the chairman, that Senator Lautenberg, who has been promised 3 minutes, be given those 3 minutes, and that if Senator Santorum needs a minute or two to respond to Senator…

With that understanding--and there will be a Senator Nelson of Florida amendment, so you are on notice relative to that--I have no objection.

My remarks in support of the McCain amendment will be fairly brief, but Senator Byrd does wish to speak on the amendment. We are trying to ascertain how much time he desires.

There is a lineup of amendments to which we had previously agreed. It was not my understanding the Senator would be offering an amendment.

And as Vice President, we will also claim him as a Member of the Senate as well.

Maybe we could ascertain that. He is on his way to the floor. I know he was willing to make the modification. It is helpful to put the date of his amendment in line with our bill, the fiscal year, as I understand it.

The pending amendment, Mr. President, as I understand it, is the amendment of Senator Warner on behalf of Senator Frist, Senator Reid, and myself.

We look forward to that amendment. I am sure there will be a lot of support for that operation on both sides of the aisle. We haven't seen the language, but I am sure we will support it.

Right, and they continue to pay all kinds of taxes, and indeed they are paying taxes compared to what very wealthy people are not overall paying.

Okay. I hope in the future Republicans who keep on saying they do not pay taxes will not say that anymore.

Two quick comments. Mr. Thomas, when you say that the people taken off the rolls a few years ago do not pay any taxes--you did, twice you said that.