On the recordJuly 30, 2011
I thank the Senators, again, from Minnesota and Alaska for coming and making the point and underlying and scoring the point that this filibuster the Republican caucus is holding today--not allowing us to have a simple majority vote on the Reid plan--is hurting business. As the Senator said, this is a pattern, unfortunately, it seems like coming from the other side. We had to overcome their filibuster just last year to pass the small business bill that is now having a terrific effect throughout the country in some pockets. We still are not where we would like to be, of course, in job creation, and the recovery is slow. I am starting to think that maybe that is what they want--for the recovery to be slow. Then they filibustered the SBIR bill, which is the largest single research investment program for small businesses in America. We still cannot get that passed. They are filibustered. Then they filibustered the EDA bill, which is one of the most important programs to Chambers of Commerce, which is not a liberal stronghold in America. Now they are filibustering this bill and demanding a two-step solution, and no businessperson has written to Congress saying they think that is a good way to go. The opposite. They are saying: Get this over with now. The uncertainty is killing us. I will yield to the Senator from Alaska.
