On the recordMarch 30, 2011
following any leader remarks, there will be a period for the transaction of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 493, the small business jobs bill. Rollcall votes in relation to amendments to the small business jobs bill are possible today. We hope our friends on the Republican side who are blocking will allow us to move forward on this bill. There are a number of nongermane and really nonappropriate amendments on this bill. We have agreed to go ahead and work on those. Two that are the most glaring are the 1099, which we need to resolve, and the EPA controversy we have. We are being blocked on the other side from even getting votes on these amendments. We were told earlier in the session that what the Republicans wanted was an open amendment process. That is great, except we have an open amendment process and they will not let us vote on the bills. I hope that changes. They will not let us vote on the amendments or the bills. Anyway, if the logjam is broken, we will schedule them as soon as we can. There will be a Senators-only briefing today regarding Libya with Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen. That will be at 5 p.m. in the new Visitor Center. ____________________
