Cord Byrd: “let me respond to that. The Senator] speaks of cooperation from the other side. I note that 1, 2, 3, 5, 6--9 of these…”

“let me respond to that. The Senator] speaks of cooperation from the other side. I note that 1, 2, 3, 5, 6--9 of these appropriations bills--10, 11--11 of them were reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee this year no later than July 21, reported and placed on the calendar--11 of them. Why weren't they called up in the Senate? The Appropriations Committee, on which the distinguished Senator from Idaho and I sit, the Appropriations Committee, under the excellent leadership of Senator Ted Stevens, reported those bills out; 11 of them, I believe--no later than--what date was that? No later than the 21st of July. Why weren't they called up? We had plenty of time. Why weren't they called up? May I say, in addition to that, the Senate certainly had the time to act on those bills. We were out of session on too many Fridays. We come in here on Monday, many Mondays, and we do not cast a vote, or we cast a vote at 5 o'clock, or we go out on Fridays, we don't have any session at all, or we go out by noon with perhaps one vote having been taken. The Senator and I could talk until we are each blue in the face, but it seems to me that someone needs to explain in a reasonable way as to why we don't act on Mondays and Fridays, act as we ought to as a legislative body--be in session. We are getting paid for the work. Why don't we act on these appropriations bills? When I was majority leader, I stood before my caucus in 207.…”