Byron Dorgan: “Nearly a week and a half ago I offered my amendment dealing with chapter 11 of NAFTA, to deal with the issue of secret…”

“Nearly a week and a half ago I offered my amendment dealing with chapter 11 of NAFTA, to deal with the issue of secret multinational tribunals that consider trade bases behind closed doors. This was an amendment that was bipartisan, and had wide support. I offered my amendment, and there was a tabling motion. We had 67 Members of the Senate vote against tabling, and then we could not get the amendment adopted. A number of days elapsed where we just could not get the amendment adopted. It appears the same thing is happening here. The same Member of the Senate is doing it. He certainly has a right to do that, but as the Senator from Nevada says, if somebody wants to filibuster this, then let him come to the floor and bring a pitcher of water, get some comfortable shoes on, and stand here for a few hours. But what I hope we will do is adopt the Dayton-Craig amendment. It is quite clear, from the evidence of the vote on tabling a while ago, that this amendment will pass by a very significant margin. And the sooner the better.”