On the recordMay 23, 2015
We would be happy to cooperate in passing a surface transportation bill by voice, but I do say this--and I mentioned this to my colleague away from the microphones. For those of us living in the West, we cannot get back on a Sunday afternoon. I think it is very difficult for us to get back here on a weekday before 5 o'clock, so I would hope on a Sunday we wouldn't be expecting the Senate to come in session before 5 o'clock because we can't get here. I am protecting the western part of my caucus, which is pretty big, but I am not going to agree to anything unless we can come in at least after 5 o'clock. Mr. McCONNELL. Well, as my friend the Democratic leader knows, I would be happy to work with him on that. He also knows I just tried to get a short-term extension of a variety of different lengths in order not to put us in this position, but we are left with this option only. We will work with the Democratic leader about the actual time, but the law expires at midnight Sunday a week. I doubt if there are many of us comfortable with that--maybe a handful--but we need to act responsibly here on behalf of the American people.
