Harry Reid: “I have been informed by staff--I hope I have been informed wrongly--that we are now not going to be allowed to vote on…”

“I have been informed by staff--I hope I have been informed wrongly--that we are now not going to be allowed to vote on the underlying amendment, the Dorgan amendment. Normally what happens here is that when a motion to table is defeated and the amendment is there, and it is such an overwhelming vote, it is just adopted by voice. But I have been told the minority will not allow us to do this. I am troubled for a number of reasons, not the least of which is what happened when the majority leader had breakfast with the President yesterday. I believe it was yesterday. It could have been the day before, but I am almost certain it was yesterday. At that breakfast, the President told the majority leader and those other people assembled that his No. 1 priority was this trade bill. On the first amendment we offered, there is a filibuster. If there is something in this bill that someone doesn't like, let him move to strike that portion of the bill. There are all kinds of things that can be done. But for us to be told that we cannot vote on this says there is a filibuster taking place. I suggest--certainly the decision is not mine, but I think the majority leader would have to strongly consider filing a motion to invoke cloture. Certainly, when the motion is defeated by such an overwhelming margin and we are now told we cannot adopt the measure, it seems it is totally unfair.”