Harry Reid: “One point that weighs favorably at least on this Senator's mind is that the distinguished majority leader said on more…”

“One point that weighs favorably at least on this Senator's mind is that the distinguished majority leader said on more than one occasion that when and if cloture is invoked we would have the opportunity to debate germane amendments. We have a handful of germane amendments. No one will be trying to use a lot of time, but I think the time on most of our germane amendments would be 5 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes-- not very much time. So we could do those quickly. One of the concerns--and certainly the majority leader has never done this, and it hasn't been done for a number of years--if it is possible even postcloture to cut off people from offering germane amendments. I think the majority leader said on Friday that germane amendments would be allowed. That is a step in the right direction, not only for completing this bill but for future work in the Senate. It would be a bad thing if cloture were invoked, people anticipating they could offer their germane amendments, and then we go into a 30-hour quorum call.”