Cord Byrd: “Yes, I reserve the right to object. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished majority leader for reading the request…”

“Yes, I reserve the right to object. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished majority leader for reading the request that has been presented to me. First of all, let me say I think we are shortcutting the legislative process too much. Let me be specific in two or three instances here. All first-degree amendments must be offered by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, and that at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the minority manager be recognized to offer any amendment on the list from the minority side of the aisle, and that no later than 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the majority manager be recognized to offer any amendment on the list from the majority side. Now what does that mean, ``offer any amendment on the list''? I do not have any amendment that I consider just to be a minor, inconsequential amendment. If I have an amendment, I consider it important enough that I be here to offer my own amendment. This is not the legislative process in accordance with the rules. I do not know what that means--``must be offered.'' If I offer an amendment, I may want to take 2 or 3 hours on it. If somebody else offers an amendment, I may want to offer an amendment in the second degree to it. We have had too much of this business of accommodations. We have streamlined this process to the point that Senators are going to lose the knowledge of their responsibilities here. We do not have the responsibility to shortcut this process. We do not have the responsibility to put it on automatic pilot.”