Harry Reid: “The answer is yes. I also say, Mr. President, so there is no problem later on, so everyone understands the quandary we…”

“The answer is yes. I also say, Mr. President, so there is no problem later on, so everyone understands the quandary we are in-- but we didn't get us there, we didn't spend a third of our time on three judges--here is the quandary we are in. As I understand the rules, if cloture is invoked on the Defense authorization bill, we will finish it sometime Wednesday evening. Then there will be a vote that will occur automatically on the gun handling bill legislation and then there will be 30 hours to debate the motion to proceed on the gun legislation. Senator Reed from Rhode Island has told me he wants to use all that 30 hours, he or some combination of Senators, so that will end sometime around midnight on Thursday. And then if the majority leader wants to continue the presentation of the gun legislation, there would have to be cloture filed again for a Saturday vote or maybe even have a Friday vote if he does it Friday before midnight, and then there is another 30 hours to go forward on the gun legislation. And during that period of time no other business can be conducted. I have spoken with the majority leader about this issue. There will be a small window of time on Wednesday between whatever time the 30 hours runs out at midnight, if he decides to continue on the gun legislation, that we can in the few hours do the Energy conference report, Interior conference report, highway conference report, legislative branch conference report, and whatever else is available.…”