On the recordOctober 8, 2013
I am happy to sit down and talk to the Senator--his office or my office. The point we have right here today is that we need the government open. With all due respect to my friend, the junior Senator from Texas--I want to say this in a most respectful way--he and I, with the dialog here on the Senate floor, we are not going to work this out. I have asked that the government be open so that everyone can have benefits. The veterans measure he proposes leaves many veterans out in the cold--out in the cold--including the families of 17 of our servicemen who were killed since this came into effect, this shutdown. So we will go as we have. I object to his proposal. I assume he will object to mine. And then we will go through the 10 minutes per person and see what happens later today. But I do--I am happy to sit down and talk to the Senator in my office, his office, any place he suggests, privately or publicly. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
