Jon S. Corzine: “I also want to note the House of Representatives included a similar measure in its version of the Transportation bill.…”

“I also want to note the House of Representatives included a similar measure in its version of the Transportation bill. It was a bipartisan amendment sponsored by New Jersey colleagues, Frank LoBiondo, a Republican, and Bill Pascrell, a Democrat. This was passed unanimously, the same language, by the House. In my view, this is an imperative step to allow States to have better control and more transparency and honesty in their contracting processes. I think it will move to save money for our States and put in place a greater sense of credibility for the public when it deals with its oversight of public contracting. I think we owe the taxpayers this, and I urge my colleagues to support the Corzine-Lautenberg amendment. We should join the House, in my view, in instituting this ability for States to control their own contracting process. I yield the floor. I understand my colleague, Senator Lautenberg, along with our other colleagues who left the Senate at the time of the recess, will be returning to speak to this amendment. I will yield the floor, but I would appreciate it if we could reserve the right of Senator Lautenberg, upon his arrival, to come back and be next on the queue to speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senator asking unanimous consent in a formal request? Is there objection to the Senator's request to allow Senator Lautenberg the ability to speak when he returns to the Capitol?”