Cord Byrd: “the proponents of the amendment have pointed out a number of times that most of the so-called filibusters have occurred…”

“the proponents of the amendment have pointed out a number of times that most of the so-called filibusters have occurred in the last year, or last 2 or 3 years, and according to the chart, that is correct. What they are talking about, Mr. President, and what has gone around over this land is the idea that the failure to give unanimous consent to take up a matter constitutes a filibuster. Mr. President, let us read the rules. We do not need the Harkin amendment to stop so-called filibusters on motions to proceed. We do not need that. Let us read the present rules. I urge Senators to read the rules of the Senate. Read the rules of the body to which they belong before they start proposing that the rules be changed. Here is paragraph 2 of standing rule VIII: All motions made during the first 2 hours of a new legislative day to proceed to the consideration of any matter shall be determined without debate, except motions to proceed to the consideration of any motion, resolution, or proposal to change any of the Standing Rules of the Senate shall be debatable. In that case it will be debated. Here we have paragraph 2 in Rule VIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate which says, in plain English words, that any motion made during the first 2 hours on a new legislative day to take up a matter is nondebatable. What more do we need? Mr. President, I have been majority leader of this Senate twice. I have been leader of the minority once, for a period of 6 years.”