Jim Inhofe

I know there are a lot of Members interested in the Allen amendment. We are close to final passage. We may have a couple of amendments after we return at 2 o'clock, at which time we will want to debate those. We will be limited to 2…

Let me reserve the right to object and ask the Senator if he would amend his unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes as in morning business. However, if a Member comes with an amendment-- since the cutoff is 25 minutes away--the…

The Senator from Iowa, chairman of the Finance Committee, has a title under this bill. If you don't mind, I am sure there will be time.

We have several requests to speak prior to 4 o'clock and then more prior to 5:30 on the highway bill which is the regular order. So far, those speakers who want to speak in morning business have been kind enough to say that they would not…

I don't see Senator Baucus. I ask Senator Bond, do you want to make any comments?

Yes, I agree. We hear all the time in this body and all representative bodies about what is desirable. It reminds me of the guy who went to the department store, and this beautiful, young, voluptuous saleslady came up to him and she said…

The Senator from Alaska named a list of things she would have preferred to see in the bill. As I thought of each one of them, I agree with each one. Of course, the Presiding Officer is also a member of the committee, and we know there are…

No, I suggest you go ahead. I say to the Senator, after the Senator gave his eloquent talk about the safety problems that are out there throughout America right now, I came to the floor and talked about the safety core provisions that are…

The Senator could wait until you are finished. Mr. DeWINE. I could wait to start until later if you want.

I understand. But you would attempt to do it in 10 minutes? Mr. DeWINE. Yes. I will certainly do it in 10 minutes.

I will. Mr. DeWINE. I have a tribute to a soldier who was killed, and it will take no more than 10 minutes. So once I start, I would not want to stop. But I will not start until you want me to start.

I renew our plea for Members to bring their amendments down. We are making progress in terms of shortening the list. I would like to announce on our side we have hotlined it twice and we are down to 11 amendments by 9 different authors…

We have been pleading with our colleagues to bring amendments down. Will the Senator, in the event an amendment comes to the floor, then yield for consideration of that amendment? Judicial Nominations

Let me just make one answer on the question you had, How much more land? I refer to Jabez, you are familiar, in the First Chronicles. They say: ``Expand my territory.'' So we want more. I make a point of order the pending Byrd amendment is…

I appreciate that and will wait until we have an opportunity to speak to those managing the finance title of the bill. That being the case, let me renew our invitation for people to bring their amendments to the floor. Right now we have…

I will just observe that they have covered bridges in both New Hampshire and Vermont.

I suggest that it is mutually agreeable to send it to the desk and that it be considered.

We want to ask unanimous consent to proceed to a vote on the two amendments beginning at 5:30.

We are trying to lock in votes for tonight, and I was preparing for a unanimous consent request, but to do that we would have to give--I think the Senator needs to give the other side at least a couple of minutes to respond. The request…

May I inquire of the Senator about how long he will be taking for his opening remarks?

We do want to hear from the Senator from Arkansas, but in fairness, we should go back and forth. The chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Bond, wants to be heard first. Does the Senator from Vermont have an objection to that?

I would rather not do it because I will make a motion to waive after the Senator makes the point of order. That is debatable and I would like to make it.

Could I inquire as to how long you would like to address the Senate in morning business.

A few minutes ago we had an agreement that we would allow the Senator from Massachusetts to speak up to 25 minutes as in morning business and that the Senator would follow him with the same amount of time. That is what we would intend to…

It is my understanding then that the Senator from Massachusetts will go for 25 minutes. Then the Senator from Pennsylvania will go for 25 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. That was the Chair's understanding. The Senator from…