On the recordJanuary 24, 2013
Could I inquire because I want to use the two Senators as the example. They did that on the Defense Authorization Act. They were able to get the bill to the floor. They started on the bill, had a little rough start, but started on the bill and then set up a series of votes. We were able to vote on I don't know how many amendments. But it is interesting, if my memory is correct, there was no requirement for a 60-vote threshold on any of those amendments. You voted them all on majority so there was no need for a cloture vote because we started on it and people believed the process was fair. They had the opportunity, they had a chance to debate. So we had full and open debate on many issues. National defense authorization opens a whole host of issues which are very controversial: What do we do with detainees? What do we do with our civil liberty rights? What do we do with our troop levels? There were a lot of issues that could have divided us, and we had the type of debate that I think was in the best interests of the Senate and we completed that bill in a timely way. I think the way the two Senators were able to come forward--there are a lot of other committees. I serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We talked today, yesterday, during--Senator McCain is also on that committee. We talked--Secretary Clinton--wouldn't it be nice to get a State Department authorization bill on the floor of the Senate? Mr. McCAIN. It is a disgrace that we have not--in how many years?
