On the recordSeptember 14, 2011
the House sent us a package, and I appreciate that very much. It funds the highway bill for 6 months, and it funds the FEMA bill for 4 months. That is terrific. We should move to this as quickly as we can; however, we are told it is going to be held up by the Republicans. If someone wants to have a vote on an amendment as it relates to this, I will be happy to discuss this with the Republican leader and see if we can work something out. In the instance I am talking about, however, the Senator said he doesn't want to vote; he just wants to hold up the bill. He said if we put in what we got from the House and stuck his provision in that, then he would be happy. Well, I guess anyone would. It is a pretty good way to legislate around here--just be a dictator and say: Either take this or leave it. That isn't the way things work around here. We have to have votes on issues to find out how people feel. I am convinced his issue would lose overwhelmingly, but he is holding up this legislation, and we are in a position now legislatively that I can't get to this bill. We cannot get to this bill prior to Friday, when the FAA expires. So it is unfortunate that is the position we are in. One Senator is holding this up, and what it will do is--the highway bill does not expire on Friday; FAA does. But they are a package.…
