Tom Harkin: “I was listening with some interest to the unanimous consent proposed by the distinguished majority leader, and I thought…”

“I was listening with some interest to the unanimous consent proposed by the distinguished majority leader, and I thought for a minute I was back in the House of Representatives. I remember a time in the Senate when we actually introduced amendments, debated and voted on them. I thought that was what the Senate was supposed to do. Over in the House, where I served for 10 years, they have a Rules Committee. The Rules Committee reports a bill out on the floor, and a lot of times they give them closed rules, which means you cannot add amendments. That is what I just heard propounded here. If, in fact, they get cloture, it is a closed rule. That is basically what it is. I wish we can get back to a Senate where we debate and vote on amendments. ____________________”