On the recordJune 29, 2011
I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 511 The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There will now be 2 minutes of debate prior to a vote on the DeMint amendment No. 511. The Senator from South Carolina. Mr. DeMINT. Madam President, this next amendment is about accountability and transparency. I thank the leadership teams on both sides for accepting most of the positions here for legislative affairs that interface on our behalf with the administration. There are eight more positions and that is all this amendment is about. They are public affairs positions that interface on behalf of the public with the administration. Certainly we can give the public the same accountability and transparency we ask for ourselves. These are the positions within the White House. If Americans have a problem in any area, whether it is defense contracting, Health and Human Services, HUD, Labor, they call a public affairs officer. These folks need to be accountable to us and we need to make sure they respond to the American people. There are only eight positions here that we are asking to go through the normal confirmation process. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Maine.
