The Senator from Michigan is absolutely correct. That is why this is so flabbergasting to me, because the Senator is correct. The TARP, some of us voted for it, some of us did not, but there are some legitimate criticisms of it. I mean, it…

Mr. President, I see other Members on the floor. Senator Burris had spoken earlier. I wish to say there was an organization we failed to mention, but the Minority Bankers of America also have given their support to this. We are getting…

It is not. The Senator is absolutely correct. That is why I spent the majority of this day trying to be responsive to the several arguments that have been raised against it. I thought the Senator from Oregon did a beautiful job, much…

Mr. President, I see the Senator from Illinois. I will ask unanimous consent for him to speak for 2 to 3 minutes. But before that, I wish to thank the Senator from California. The Senator from Illinois would know this, but this issue, this…

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Florida for his outstanding remarks and for his ability and his willingness to stand for the people of Florida because his State has had a great deal of difficulty, not unlike the State of…

We have had three Senators come to the floor. The Senator, the ranking member of the committee is here now, Senator Snowe. I have the greatest respect for the Senator. She outlined a few points that she has concerns about. I will come back…

I thank the Senator from North Carolina, and I ask unanimous consent to yield the next 15 minutes to the Senator from Florida. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Florida. Mr. LeMIEUX. I again thank…

Mr. President, I see the cosponsor of this amendment. I will ask unanimous consent for him to be recognized. But before I do, I wish to ask a question of the Senator from North Carolina. Senator Hagan is on the floor. I would like to pose…

Mr. President, I appreciate those remarks. A portion of the LeMieux-Landrieu amendment is to step up exports. The Senator from Oregon has been one of the key designers of this program. He is going to speak about a very important point that…

This says: Is small business credit in a deep recession? This is the NFIB. They are one of the most conservative business organizations. I want to read to you their executive summary. It says: Forty percent of small businessowners…

Mr. President, I see several Members on the floor. I am going to speak for 2 minutes, and then Senator Klobuchar for 1 minute, and Senator Merkley for 10; and if somebody else comes, we will put them in the queue. Senator LeMieux may want…

Yes. It will create many jobs, and maybe we can then have a recovery that has jobs associated with it. That is the effort. We have fashioned this so that it is going to make money for the Treasury. It is not related to TARP funding. It is…