Cord Byrd: “We have too much efficiency now. The constitutional framers did not create the United States Senate to be an efficient…”

“We have too much efficiency now. The constitutional framers did not create the United States Senate to be an efficient organization. The Senate was intended to be a second House in which the Members would have longer terms and thus be more independent in their votes; where legislation passed by the House in a hurry could cool off; where it could be meticulously studied, thoughtfully amended, reasonably agreed to or rejected. I know the impulse here is to ram things through. Thank God for the U.S. Senate. One Senator can stand as long as he is able to stand on his feet and object. I do not mind doing that. If you insist on our being here tomorrow and our colleagues want to go to a retreat, you will not be interrupted by any rollcall. I will get you away and I will talk all day. So do not let that be a compelling gun to your temple. Let us do our business here as we are expected to do it by the people who sent us here. Let us carry out our responsibilities to offer the amendment. What does it mean to offer an amendment? How is my manager going to call up 20 amendments?”