Mary Landrieu: “I think that is an excellent suggestion. Again, let me just thank the Senator sincerely for his patience, and I…”

“I think that is an excellent suggestion. Again, let me just thank the Senator sincerely for his patience, and I appreciate the compliments. As he knows, there are many other Senators who feel just like I do. It is time to be Senators again, and it is just time to trust one another to at least move amendments that are noncontroversial, that no one objects to. Then we can whittle the list down to those that do need debate and discussion, and, as you said, a little trading may have to go on. That is normal. What is not normal is coming to this floor, and those of us who have worked so hard to get cosponsors, to tap down resistance, to modify, to compromise, don't get any time at all because--I don't know. I don't know who decided we don't. But I have enough power to try to change it, and I am going to. So I just want to say in closing, I have in front of me a list of 24 amendments--amendments by Senators Begich, Cardin, Collins, Hagan, Heller, Kirk, Klobuchar, Landrieu, Leahy, Hatch, Murray, Nelson, Reed, Schatz, Stabenow, Udall, Udall, and a few others--about 24--that the Republicans and Democrats think no one objects to. I would ask the leader if he would review this list tonight, ask the managers of the bill if they would review this list tonight, and if we could just get these noncontroversial amendments agreed to either by voice vote, individual vote, or en bloc vote. It doesn't matter to me. It could be this week or next week.…”