Byron Dorgan: “I am a little uncomfortable with the discussion here. The discussion is: Under what conditions will the majority leader…”

“I am a little uncomfortable with the discussion here. The discussion is: Under what conditions will the majority leader allow us to consider this bill? I understand that amendments are inconvenient, but the rules of the Senate allow people to be elected to the Senate and offer amendments and consider legislation. The unanimous consent request offered by the majority leader was to take up this bill and pass it without any discussion or any amendments. Now there is a negotiation here saying: Maybe I will allow it to be brought to the floor if the Senator from Nevada would, on behalf of his side, agree to no more than five amendments. The fact is, it seems to me if we fretted a little less about what someone might do when they bring something to the floor and started working through it, it would probably take a whole lot less time. I happen to be supportive of the H-1B legislation, but I am not very supportive of some notion of anybody in the Senate saying: Here are the conditions under which we will consider it--and only these conditions-- and if you don't like it, we won't consider it.”