Chris Dodd: “I don't know how many of our colleagues during this past number of hours have had the time to listen to the comments of…”

“I don't know how many of our colleagues during this past number of hours have had the time to listen to the comments of our colleague from Rhode Island. I know we all have busy schedules and appointments in our offices and with the hearings we attend. I have had those meetings in my office as well. One thing I have not done today, which I do under normal circumstances, is put on the mute button when constituents come to my office. In the last couple of hours, I have not done that. I have been transfixed, listening to our colleague from Rhode Island. I have witnessed a lot of people over my 24 years in the Senate make a case for or against a piece of legislation, and I do not recall another instance when someone has been as eloquent, as thoughtful, as well prepared as Jack Reed of Rhode Island has in presenting his case here today as to why this bill is a bad idea. I publicly commend him for his well-prepared, well-thought-out, passionate arguments on why this is a troublesome piece of legislation. I thank him for being a good educator on this subject matter. Let me take a few minutes, if I can, to express some views. It is not every day that I question at all the majority leader's decision to seek to bring a particular piece of legislation to the floor of the Senate. As someone who has been in this body for almost a quarter of a century, I have great respect for the role of majority leader and how difficult a job it is.…”