Roy Blunt

Well, I do appreciate that. And I just say for my friend's information that we've certainly discouraged the White House, we're hoping, not only discouraged them from moving forward with any new additions, and I think they have decided not…

Well, I wouldn't quarrel with the gentleman about not having a good time for tax increases since '01 and '03, but revenue actually has increased during that period of time. I think in '05, '06 and '07 we may have set records of increased…

I thank Mr. Hoekstra for the leadership he has given on this issue. The problem we have with the bill on the floor today is, in everything I read, it can't become law. That is one problem. A bigger problem is that it doesn't address the…

It was not on Iran-Contra. It was 1983 and it was on Contra. In fact, our colleague from Florida (Mr. Young) called for that secret session in 1983. There was also a secret session in 1979 and in 1980. So there have been three of these…

I would say that every knowledge I have would indicate that our Intelligence Committees have seen the information, and that does not preclude moving to secret session to share information with other Members. I appreciate what some other…

I think I am in agreement with the parameters the gentleman has suggested. I also understand that when you raise those topics, you have perhaps a fuller exchange of ideas, but certainly you can't control what the exchange of ideas will be…

I would say it is not intended for that but, in fact, to further amplify our ability to have that discussion tomorrow as we thoughtfully reflect on information. You couldn't talk about the information but you could talk about your…

The timing of the floor, I would tell my friend from Ohio, is not up to me, and it has been well known for this entire day that I would make this request at sometime during the day. We worked with the majority to try to get the budget out…

I think it would be my obligation, even though I haven't actually moved to do so based on our discussions, to bring information and communicate information that is confidential and that I believe ought to be kept secret at this time. I…

I think in the early days they were in secret session all the time or much of the time. Since 1825, I think, there have been three secret sessions. Prior to that I think there were many secret sessions.

I've said three times now this was information that's been available to the Intelligence Committee.

I come today to express my great appreciation for him, the work he has done in this and past Congresses, the work he has done as part of our whip team, the consistent good judgment I think he shows as a Member of this body. And I was…

I do think since those discussions began the Colombian Government has made changes in the agreement in those areas, all of which have now been passed by the Colombian legislature, and I look forward to moving forward with that.

I believe there is a way to address this issue. We need to find it, and I hope we can. Last night, we had the Andean trade bill on the floor. This is a bill that allows access to our markets by Andean countries, including the country that…

Well, I would thank the gentleman for that. I hope we can work to resolve this. I do think the foreign individuals making calls in a foreign country, for that to work the way it needs to work, voluntary compliance is extremely important…

I do think this liability issue is important. We want to continue to have voluntary compliance. We also don't want to put these companies that have voluntarily complied in a situation where the only way to prove that what they did was…

I am fully supportive of the prerogatives of the Congress. I think the Congress has a right to ask for, receive, demand information from the administration; but I don't think that right extends to this case. I think the idea that we would…

I think that essentially verifies my friend's comments on that and possibly, as you have explained it to me, the admiral's comments this morning. But Mr. Wainstein went on to say but "there is a risk" that the officials would not be able…

Well, I appreciate that; I hope we can. I do think that there is the likelihood that a very quick problem develops if you don't have the ongoing ability that we currently have to try to intercept communications. There is some argument even…

I hope that we are moving toward a long-term resolution of that. I know the Senate, we believe, will pass a long-term bill possibly as early as tomorrow. On the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as we hopefully move toward a…

Well, if I determine to make that argument, I will tell my friend, I will make it in good faith, and we do have a difference of opinion on this. Hopefully, the Senate will get its work done in a way that we will have a maximum amount of…

I appreciate that. I do hope we can find a permanent solution here. I think that the 2 weeks is important. I also think it's important that that law not be allowed to expire, which made this 2 weeks a significant development. At the same…

Well, I agree, and I intend to work to see that it passes so this works in the best possible way. I hope we take maximum advantage of this 15 or 16 days that we have now given ourselves to look at the information to try to do what we can…

I want to rise to follow up on the announcement that my good friend Mr. Skelton from Missouri just made. Of course, all Missourians are proud of President Truman and his family. He was a man of great humility. In fact, one day recently in…

I would think that if we find ourselves in that situation, at least I personally would want to look for the shortest period of time when we could reasonably reach a permanent solution to this. I don't think the country benefits from a…