Byron Dorgan: “I have just visited with the chairman of the committee and you know there exists a list of amendments that Members of…”

“I have just visited with the chairman of the committee and you know there exists a list of amendments that Members of the Senate wish to offer to this legislation. As I have watched this process over the last couple of days, it appears to me that we have set up a gatekeeper of sorts for determining who will offer amendments and whether there will be votes on the amendments, and it appears to me we are not making very much progress. I would like to get some sense of whether we have a clear process beginning this afternoon, so that this afternoon and this evening we might be able to move through 6, 8, 10 amendments and get time agreements so Members of the Senate have the opportunity under the rules to offer and have considered amendments that they consider important in this legislation.”