Ben Cardin: “I ask my colleague--I daresay most people in this country do not know what a motion to proceed is all about. They do not…”

“I ask my colleague--I daresay most people in this country do not know what a motion to proceed is all about. They do not realize the majority leader cannot bring a bill. A bill might be reported. We might have a farm bill or a Defense authorization bill or we might have a bill coming out that reforms some of our judicial codes. It comes out of the committee with a bipartisan vote. I think our constituents will be surprised to learn that the majority leader cannot bring that bill to the floor. It has to go through what is called a motion to proceed. What might happen in that motion to proceed? You might just tell us the problems we have today because we couldn't get to a lot of motions to proceed.”