On the recordOctober 6, 2011
There is a unanimous consent pending. The PRESIDING OFFICER. If the Republican leader would restate the question. Mr. McCONNELL. At the end of cloture, would it require consent to offer motions to suspend? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Once an amendment slot is available, the motion to suspend is in order. Is there objection to the unanimous consent? Mr. McCONNELL. Reserving the right to object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. Let me just say, again, all we are asking is the opportunity to prioritize the seven that the minority would like to offer. At the end of cloture, as I just heard the Parliamentarian say, we would be entitled to offer it anyway. We are trying to cooperate and get these motions lined up in a way that would give everybody an opportunity to vote shortly. I just would say to my friend the majority leader, it doesn't seem to me unreasonable for the minority to be able to pick the minority's amendments. It was challenging enough for us to filter our way through the hundreds that my Members would have liked to have offered to get down to seven. It was particularly challenging since they were not allowed to offer any amendments prior to cloture on the bill, which would be the normal process around here.
