Excessive corporate taxes and needless regulations are preventing the creation of jobs and severely limiting economic growth in the country.

I can't emphasize that enough, Mr. Chairman.

I want to speak for a couple of minutes, until another speaker arrives on the other side. If I might, I want to elaborate on where these discussions are that we have been having with regard to getting a result and a solution that I think…

I wish to join my colleague from Iowa, who has been a great leader over the years on the issue of biofuels, in trying to transition our country away from the dangerous dependence we have on foreign oil and over the years has worked to put…

how much time remains? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 9 minutes 37 seconds remaining.

these past few weeks I have been coming to the floor to talk about the size and scope of our Nation's fiscal problems. It has been said often that this is the most predictable crisis we have ever faced, and I believe that is true. I have…

I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I am in particular concerned about the limited definition the CFTC is looking to instate for the de minimis exemption when defining 'swap dealers.'

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this motion. As the Senator from Minnesota has pointed out, there is a better way to do this. I think we can all work together in a constructive way and accomplish what the proponents of this amendment…

Do you believe that the position limits that are being proposed by the CFTC will raise costs for smaller investors who have money in commodity mutual funds?

If there is a farmers co-op out there that poses a systemic risk to the economy, I have not bumped into it yet.

Should end users who are hedging financial risk be given an exemption?

I don't disagree with that. There is an issue I have not argued. It is your prerogative to bring this up and file cloture, which you have done in this circumstance. I think the renewable fuels standard that creates the sort of policy…

Well, I say to my colleague from Oklahoma that I was not aware he said he supports ethanol. I was not aware he supports the RFS. If there is an amendment offered to strike the RFS, which there will be--am I wrong in saying the Senator…

I also ask unanimous consent I be allowed to enter into a colloquy with my colleague from Nebraska, Senator Johanns. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

If it is under the definition of tax expenditure, sure. Oil depletion allowances and intangible drilling costs are characterized, for subsidy purposes, the same way as the ethanol tax credit. We have lots of what we would characterize as…

When we characterize what you called tax expenditures, there are a bunch that fall into that category. I know the Senator is familiar with that as he served on the President's debt commission. It is about $1.1 trillion a year. In some way…

if I might just say to my colleague from Minnesota, I appreciate her good work and advocacy on this subject. This is something we have been working on for some time, along with some of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, for a lot…

in closing, I wish to, first of all, thank the Senator from Nebraska for joining us. He has a great wealth of experience, not only having grown up on a family farm in his early years but representing his State as a mayor, as a Governor…

tomorrow the Senate will vote on a cloture motion that deals with an amendment that would do away with a tax provision that was enacted many years back by Congress but was extended just this last December. In fact, there were a whole…

if I might just say to the Senator from Nebraska, because I am wondering if perhaps in his discussions with farmers and ranchers in his State--I am sure the issue which he alluded to, which I think is an important one, comes out--I wonder…

the Senator from Oklahoma has a strongly held view about ethanol, particularly on this issue, on the VEETC, and I understand that. I understand there are Members who would like to see that particular tax credit go away. I understand that…

if I might add one point. I think the Senator from Minnesota did point out that there are a significant number of jobs that are associated with this industry--in fact, one-half million jobs. They are American jobs. They are jobs in the…

the request was that at the conclusion of the remarks of the Senator from California, the Senator from Ohio would have how many minutes? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Ten minutes.

last week I had the opportunity to travel my State of South Dakota, as I think most Senators did who were home over the break. During the week, I was able to be part of a couple of events in my State with former Comptroller General David…