On the recordDecember 16, 2010
Let me be very clear for the record ahead of time, because he opened his floor remarks this morning by asserting we don't have time to be able to consider this treaty before the end of the year. Then he said that even though the START I treaty--which I referred to yesterday and he specifically referred to my comments--he said even though it was completed in 4 days--maybe 4 plus, slightly--he said it wasn't done under the same circumstances. It didn't have to compete with other legislation and so forth. Well, that is incorrect. So let's set the record straight. On the same day the Senate held a cloture vote on the START I treaty and votes on two amendments related to the treaty, on that same day, it voted on the final passage of a tax bill. The following day, when the Senate voted on another amendment related to the treaty, it also agreed to the conference report on Interior appropriations, passed the DC appropriations bill, and debated and held two rollcall votes on the Foreign Operations appropriations bill. The following day, it completed the final passage vote on the START treaty.
