Sheldon Whitehouse: “I appreciate very much the arguments made by the very distinguished Senator from Missouri, who is also the vice chairman…”

“I appreciate very much the arguments made by the very distinguished Senator from Missouri, who is also the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee and possesses great experience in this area. My point, though, is that all these arguments are for naught if the simple courtesy of a Senator being allowed to vote on his amendment is not honored. This particular amendment being nongermane postcloture means it may very well be squeezed out by the procedural devices the Republican leader has applied. So my simple question is, if I may ask it through the Chair to the distinguished Senator from Missouri, the Republican manager of this bill, can we assure Senator Specter and myself that this amendment will, at the appropriate time in this legislation, receive a vote?”