Bill Nelson: “I wish to speak about Iraq and about this amendatory process and this legislative quagmire in which we find ourselves.…”

“I wish to speak about Iraq and about this amendatory process and this legislative quagmire in which we find ourselves. The American people are having difficulty understanding why the Senate can't get anything done. It is because we have a rule that says we can't pass something here without 60 votes out of 100 Senators. We need 60 votes to close off debate on a motion for cloture. That is a fancy term for closing the debate. We have to have 60 votes. With a Senate that is so partisan, and so split ideologically, it is hard to get those 60 votes. We see this on the amendments that have already attempted to be brought, either on a motion just to proceed, which takes 60 votes, or a motion to close off debate to get to the subject matter of the amendment. We can't get the votes. Thus, the American people are increasingly frustrated, as are the Senators, that we can't get more unanimity when, in fact, most of us know in this country what has to be done.”