On the recordOctober 6, 2011
first of all, amendments could have been offered precloture. My friend said he thought we were going to be able to offer some amendments postcloture with their motions to suspend the rules. That is what I said would happen, and I agreed to that--seven amendments. People are saying, you choose the amendments. I didn't choose the amendments. They came up with these amendments. These are the ones they gave me. I was supposed to select which ones, and that is what I did. I could not get agreement on some of these amendments. I have explained that previously. Also, everyone should recognize that motions to suspend the rules are still available; they are just not available postcloture. Rule XXII provides: Is it the sense of the Senate that debate shall be brought to a close? That is what it says. That rule has been in existence for a long time. I am sorry my friend is disappointed, but I think the playbook he is reading from is not accurate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senator from Mississippi is accurate. Until the vote we had just a few moments ago, motions to suspend postcloture were appropriate. No longer are they appropriate because, as my friend from Mississippi pointed out, we have in effect changed the rule. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader has the floor.
