Cord Byrd: “This cloture vote, may I say to my friends on both sides, is nothing but a blatant attempt to shut the minority out of…”

“This cloture vote, may I say to my friends on both sides, is nothing but a blatant attempt to shut the minority out of the chance to amend this legislation. There is a supreme arrogance about operating in this manner. We are being told by the majority: Do it our way or it will not be done at all. This is a massive, complicated bill. There are major questions about its impact on the private sector, about its impact on the consideration of future legislation in terms of points of order, its possible cost, the ability of the Congressional Budget Office to make the required estimates, constitutional questions, and agency bureaucrats making decisions that elected officials ought to be making. The people need to hear these things debated, and we Senators have a responsibility to make sure that this legislation is understood, not only by the American people but also by ourselves. How can we serve the people if we give up our right to debate and amend? We came here to represent our constituents.”