David Vitter: “I truly find this process amazing. We have been told by the master crafters of this bill, who have developed this grand…”

“I truly find this process amazing. We have been told by the master crafters of this bill, who have developed this grand compromise in a relatively small group, that this is a delicate compromise and nothing can be allowed to upset it, certainly not allowing our amendments to reach the floor this week to be debated. So it has to stay exactly like it is. For that reason, our amendments are being blocked en masse. But at the same time, these crafters of the compromise are changing their bill every half hour. It is a constantly moving target. Just a few days ago, we were presented with a brandnew underlying bill that is 761 pages. In addition, yesterday we were given a huge amendment, really 26 amendments put together, that is 373 pages. We had the audacity to ask that we be allowed to read the amendment and understand it. After making the clerk read the amendment out loud for some period, Senator Reid finally acknowledged that, yes, maybe it would be fair to let us read the amendment. So we recessed for the night. Great. The trouble is, that amendment is out the window. They are now working on a brandnew version that they are trying to present soon. We have no idea what changes are being made to yesterday's amendment to make it today's amendment. It is probably going to be over 373 pages. So our study last night is basically for nought. That process is not fair. It is patently unfair. We have the right to understand what is before the Senate.”