Negotiation means you are willing to give serious consideration to the other side's ideas.

could I have 2 more minutes, please. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

I do not know where this settled law legal theory comes from. I would note that some of my colleagues have ignored this theory during previous health care debates. In 2003, Congress passed a law, a bipartisan law, called the Medicare…

as my colleagues have done on several occasions, I come to the floor also to speak on the shutdown and the pending effort to find a compromise we can finally get to the President of the United States. Today, specifically, I come to the…

I know we have been involved in a very intense debate, long speeches, time consuming, with an opportunity to bring up issues that are very important, particularly as we see that the executive branch of government has made decisions to…

Some Senators have gotten in trouble for trying to make those political interferences.

Would you agree to review whether the Department's so-called policy against Ranking Members receiving Privacy Act information is required by the law?

There is not such a thing as an institution of Government that is separate from the interests of the American people.

I welcome you as the nominees, and I know that you are proud of the advancement you have made in your profession.

I do not know anything controversial about this gentleman.

But should you be confirmed, your political history might concern future litigants.

I just have one question for you, Mr. Smith.

I think that such behavior, whether you were personally involved or people underneath you were involved, is extremely disturbing.

You know, the Government Accountability Office is part of the U.S. Government, and you call that a third party.

I think it is very non-political.

Through consultation with the House Committee, I was able to obtain the handwritten notes of the staff who spoke with these attorneys at your firm.

This is an institutional problem that is keeping the constitutional function of checks and balances from working.

Why should I support your confirmation if your office is consistently working behind the scenes to block me and my office from attending routine briefings and meetings?

The Ninth Circuit has a high rate of cases being overturned by the Supreme Court.

Today's hearing is the 14th judicial nomination hearing this year during which we will have considered a total of 48 judicial nominees.

Whether in Fast and Furious or in Mr. Kadzik's case, shooting letters willy nilly to Congress without checking on their accuracy is simply unacceptable.

I, Senator Grassley, have been pushing for reforms for several years to enhance the Government's fraud enhancement capabilities relating to Federal health care funds.

the most transparent administration in the history of the country

One hundred Senators, not just those 55 in the majority. If they are in the minority sometimes, it is going to be just as irritating to them.

Your office has a history of interfering with agencies at the Department of Justice to prevent them from meeting with me and my staff.