1 week ago we passed a very important good government bill, the one that would make sure Members of Congress cannot benefit from insider trading information. I added to that an amendment that I think is a good government amendment. It…

I ask permission to speak as in morning business for about 12 or 13 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Operation Fast and Furious

today the Senate is considering the nomination of Cathy Ann Bencivengo to be U.S. district judge for the Southern District of California. I support this nomination which will fill the vacancy that has been created by Judge Jeffrey Miller…

for over a year now I have been investigating Fast and Furious. That is an operation coming out of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This has been a very complicated investigation. It has been made even more difficult because…

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Unanimous Consent Agreement--Executive Nomination

the Wall Street Journal recently reported that political intelligence is an approximately $100 million industry. The article also says that expert networks employ over 2,000 people to do political intelligence in Washington, DC. We have to…

Before I speak on the amendment, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside to call up my amendment No. 1493 and make that the pending amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk…

Do I have time to tell the Senators not to vote for Wall Street, vote for my amendment? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is no time. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.

This is a good government amendment. Similar to the underlying piece of legislation, it is a good government amendment. The manager is going to tell you it ought to be studied a little bit longer. We have gone for far too long not having…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To require disclosure of political intelligence activities…

one week ago today, I addressed the Senate on President Obama's decision to bypass the Senate, and the Constitution as well, by making four ``recess'' appointments at a time when the President's recess appointment power did not apply. I…

I have been asked by Senator Brown of Ohio if he could be recognized immediately after me. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I addressed the Senate recently on President Obama's recess appointments, and he did this when the Senate was not in fact in recess. I described at length why this was an outrageous and unconstitutional power grab. However, President…

I don't have any problems with the advocacy position that you filled, but I have some questions...

Do you believe terrorists pose a danger to Americans?

My sense has always been that it's very dangerous for a nominee to discuss a legal issue in advance...

In your view, under what circumstances is it appropriate for the court to override the attorney-client relationship?

My concern is that when someone suggests that a judge should have empathy they're really suggesting that the judge should place their thumb on the scales of justice.

I think we ought to realize that we are making real progress on President Obama's judicial nominees.

I respect that decision and I complied with it, sir.

Today we are continuing our progress on processing President Obama's judicial nominees.

Recently this administration--I should say President Obama's administration, in my view, has shown a disregard for the rights of religious liberties and exercise of conscience protected by the First Amendment.

The U.S. Constitution should be governed by U.S. precedent, and that's what should guide interpretations.

I have no doubt whatsoever the role that I played in the matters you mentioned was the role of an advocate...

Do you believe the U.S. is at war with terrorists?