I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1500 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will now be 2 minutes of debate equally…

But this amendment doesn't fix it. In the bill before the committee, there was a provision to bring so-called political intelligence under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Political intelligence is defined as information which is intended for…

This is one of a series of amendments in which our colleagues are applying ethics rules to the executive branch although the bill, of course, is focused on Members of Congress. In this case, this applies probably the harshest penalty that…

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont. Amendment No. 1483

He does. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the question is on agreeing to the amendment. The amendment (No. 1471) was agreed to.

Through the Chair, I was going to ask my friend from Arizona if he is feeling all right. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator looks just fine.

I move to lay that motion upon the table. The motion to lay upon the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1472 The PRESIDING OFFICER. There will now be 2 minutes of debate equally divided on the Toomey amendment No. 1472. The Senator from…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas and nays have been requested. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 2, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I wish to briefly thank the Senators from Vermont and Texas for this amendment. It strengthens the bill, as does the preceding amendment offered by Senator McCain, and I urge its adoption. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is agreeing to…

I thank the Senator from Kentucky. I would urge others with amendments listed here to think of following that example. But certainly as I look at the next four amendments, I think they are all noncontroversial. I would urge their sponsors…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate to conduct a hearing entitled ``Innovations in College Affordability'' on February 2, 2012, at…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 2, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I note the presence on the floor of the distinguished Senator from Delaware, to whom I am pleased to yield. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.

I respectfully ask for a ``no'' vote. As I indicated in support of the side-by-side I offered, executive branch employees are now under very tough ethics regulations requiring, in many cases, divestiture or recusal, and this adds a good…

I respectfully oppose the amendment put in by my two friends. This would amend the Senate rules to make it out of order for the Senate to proceed to any bill or joint resolution unless the committee of jurisdiction has posted on its Web…

in 6 or 7 minutes the Senate will begin a series of votes on the matter before us, the STOCK Act. I want to take a few moments to restate the underlying main purpose of the legislation, which is to respond to the public concern, informed…

this is a side-by-side with an amendment offered by my friend from Alabama. The question is, How many employees of the executive branch of government should be required to electronically file their disclosure statements? I believe…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 2, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting…

this has been a good, open process. We had a good bill that came in. We made it better. I yield back the remainder of my time.

for the information of our colleagues, productive work is going on to try to reach a final list of amendments for the STOCK Act and to have an agreement which will come up for a vote, and to have that obviously by a bipartisan agreement…

while the majority leader is here, I wished to thank him for the work he and his staff have continued to do to enable us to get to a vote on this bill, which most everybody in the Senate supports, to make it clear that Members of Congress…

it is a new day and with it comes the hope we will make more progress than we did yesterday. Actually, we were prepared, after some good work by the four of us--Senator Collins; Senator Brown; the occupant of the chair, Senator Gillibrand…

I thank my friend from Alabama for coming to the floor and proposing his amendment. I agree that there should be parity between the legislative and executive branches wherever it is appropriate. I am very happy to work with him. I must say…

first let me thank Senator Collins for making these points because there is concern about this particular part of the bill. There is a lot of misinformation around. I totally agree with her interpretation, which is that the reporting on…