Kent Conrad

For a moment, let me consult with the chairman and bill manager. Let me take one moment to consult with him and see how we might proceed. I ask if the Senator from Rhode Island would be prepared to yield back his time. The Senator has…

Am I correct, then, in understanding that the Senator would pay for this increase in defense in part by cutting homeland security?

I will be happy to complete my thought and finish. Over all the years when we were in control, Republicans did not offer alternative budgets. With respect to what we did in committee, every amendment we offered was paid for. The Senator is…

The chairman says we have offered no budget. The chairman well knows the majority has the responsibility to offer a budget. Our responsibility is to critique that budget. We have done so by pointing out that this is the effect of the…

I thank the Chair. If there are others who want to speak on pay-go, this is an opportunity. We have hopefully a few minutes left on this amendment before we go to the next one. We have been taking time so far this morning off the…

If the Chair could inform me how much time is left on our side on the amendment? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 15 minutes remaining.

And how much time remains on the other side on the amendment? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 28 minutes.

I will be happy--maybe we can make an adjustment here, so the Senator can finish his thoughts and then I would have a brief time to respond.

Rather than a tax increase, I think the first place we ought to look . . . is the tax gap. If we could collect this money, we'd virtually eliminate the deficit.

That is the next sentence in the letter. It is also true that the CBO analysis is very clear. They have not even attempted to put a cost behind a whole series of things that they have told us are very likely to cost money and increase the…

That is more than fair. I say to my colleague that the statement he made is just not true. I have precisely the same tax relief in my package as in yours. Every one of the items the chairman just mentioned is in my package for exactly the…

Colleagues, I see no need to ask colleagues to cast another vote. Therefore, I will withhold on the second point of order and we could go right to passage of the reconciliation conference report.

Might I inquire, on the other three points of order that I have raised, would the Chair rule that those points of order are in fact in order and appropriate?

Could the Chair advise us, what is the parliamentary circumstance we confront? My understanding is I am to be recognized to make a point of order at this point. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is correct.

That is not what I am seeking to do. I am seeking to do what we have done repeatedly here. I don't understand why all of sudden this is a difficult thing. We have done this repeatedly. When the last speaker is concluded, that if they ask…

At that point, that a quorum call be entered and that the quorum call be evenly charged.

Fifteen minutes. I ask that Senator Durbin be recognized for 15 minutes as in morning business. And for Senator Boxer, how much time? She would like up to 30 minutes as in morning business. Could we get those agreed to as well, with the…

I would like to further modify my request because I understand there are other Senators who also would like to speak as in morning business. I ask Senator Durbin, how much time would you like?

We are happy to have you go, Senator. We are just trying to make certain we know the times. Could we modify the unanimous consent request in this respect: the Senator from Kansas be recognized for up to 15 minutes off the bill?

For the interest of colleagues, Senator Byrd will be speaking for 15 minutes. Then we will go back to the majority side. Then we will come back to this side with Senator Lautenberg for 10 minutes, and then Senator Clinton for 10 minutes…

Let me say, reserving the right to object, we had made a commitment to other Senators in terms of an order here. The next Senator to be recognized is Senator Byrd on our side. I am informed that he is on his way here. I would be…

We do not have a formal agreement but an informal agreement. We would go to Senator Murkowski for her remarks. Can the Senator give us an idea, roughly, how long she might proceed?

Fifteen minutes. All right. Then on our side, it would be Senator Harkin for approximately 30 minutes.

I was going to take some time at this moment on the same subject. I, too, regret we have gotten onto the PATRIOT Act, but since we have, I feel a need to take on a couple of these points.

That is very helpful. I indicate to the Chair and all colleagues, the intention would be to go to Senator Stabenow next. There is not a formal agreement in place, but that is the informal understanding, that after Senator Allard, Senator…