If that seems too complicated, then just do what we do in Wisconsin.

I am proud to join a number of my colleagues in cosponsoring one bill, and that is S. 2180, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2006.

This is about Congress taking a good hard look in the mirror.

But what I want to say in conclusion is that of the three proposals that are before us, the one of Senator McCain and myself, the one of Senator Reid, the one of Senator Feingold--and presumably the one that Senator Santorum will soon…

There are few higher priorities than improving our ethical standards and addressing the influence of special interests on legislation.

Senator Santorum, who will testify this morning, is working on lobbying reform legislation for the Senate Republican Majority.

I was happy to be part of that enterprise, glad that it resulted in something that made America safer.

The outrageous conduct of the lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his like has gone beyond embarrassment.

My second general point, to echo a point that Senator McCain made, is that in the end, this lobbying and ethics reform effort must be bipartisan to succeed.

Senator Feingold, who will also testify this morning, introduced lobbying reform legislation just about a year ago.

I plan to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to do something about the cost of Federal campaigns.

Now, you are tackling another big one, the question of reform in Washington.

Let me say at the outset, neither political party has a monopoly on virtue.

But the Abramoff scandal has pulled back the curtain on the influence peddling that goes on here, which we must now address decisively or risk losing the benefits of our earlier efforts.

If Senators want to travel on what amounts to chartered flights, they should pay the charter rate.

I strongly support changing the rules of the Senate to prevent earmarks and the encouragement they give to some of the seamier lobbying practices we have seen.

included in the nominations just approved by the Senate is the nomination of Virginia Mary Kendall of Illinois to be the U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Illinois. She is replacing the retired Susanne Conlon. This is an…

I rise to speak about the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, which is included in the Defense Appropriations conference report. I will submit a similar statement into the Record for the Defense authorization conference report because the…

as part of a bipartisan action this morning, Democrats and Republicans agree to send a reconciliation bill back to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Even though the vast majority of this bill hurts working families…

just 1 month ago, this Congress approved the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, of 2006. President Bush signed the bill into law on November 14. The act contains strong language concerning the…

I am not sure of the exact order of procedure on the floor, whether the ranking member is yielding time on this bill at this point.

tomorrow morning we will consider the Defense appropriations conference report with very little debate. It is an important measure. Earlier I came to the floor to speak about one aspect of the bill which relates to drilling in the Arctic…

those who followed the conversation on the floor of the Senate this morning are aware of the fact we are still in session, as the House has left at least for the time being. Of course, we are close to the holiday season, when most Members…

Is the Senator from Nevada aware of the fact that the President said today, at his press conference: In a war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law [the PATRIOT Act] for a single moment. I ask the Senator from Nevada: Did the…

I say through the Chair--and I am not sure of the exact parliamentary form we are using here--in a question to the Senator from Arizona, based on his experience working in both the House and Senate, is it not more likely that when you say…