On the recordDecember 17, 2010
Thank you. That has been counterproductive to overall immigration reform, and I don't think it is immigration reform more than it is politics. So, in conclusion, it has been a week from hell. It has been a week where we are dealing with a lot of big issues, from taxes to funding the government to special interest politics. I have had some time to think about START but not a lot, and it is wearing the body. This is a major piece of legislation. My good friend, John Kerry, whom I respect, I know has tried to get this debate going in a way we could--to find a conclusion we all could vote on and go home and explain to our constituents. Senator Kyl laid that way out. Unfortunately, everything you hoped to have happen from Wednesday to this Friday has, quite frankly, just been unacceptable to a serious debate on START. Here we are, the week before Christmas Eve, and we have talked about a lot of stuff--some important, some politics--and that is the first time I have had the chance to talk about START. So I am not blaming anybody. But please don't blame me, that I have somehow ignored START, because we have been pretty busy around here stopping some bad ideas or at least trying to. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.





