Dan Coats: “we have been discussing, the last couple of days, the unemployment insurance issue. A number of us have had concerns…”

“we have been discussing, the last couple of days, the unemployment insurance issue. A number of us have had concerns relative to the effectiveness of the program relative to the cost that would undertake and how it would be paid for if it goes forward and is extended and the reforms we think would be needed to make this a much more effective program. We have not been offered the opportunity to do more than just discuss it on the floor. We have not been offered the opportunity to offer amendments, offer our ideas, have them debated and voted on. It is my understanding that the majority leader will be coming to the floor shortly to potentially--well, to tell us what the decision is relative to whether we will have that opportunity. Let me very quickly say I have been working with my colleagues Senator Ayotte from New Hampshire and Senator Portman from Ohio. All three of us voted for the motion to proceed because we felt this is an issue that ought to be discussed and debated, and not simply dismissed, and because we would like to make corrections to the program that make it more viable. We would like to raise the issue of, is there a better way to deal with unemployment in this country? We have some amendments that would allow us to move and improve and move to what we think is a better way, as well as pay for a bill that, without being paid for, exceeds the budget agreement we just entered into. I offered four amendments.…”