Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have, I guess, a parliamentary inquiry. Maybe the Senator from Massachusetts, through you, might answer. I think we are at a point in time where it is time for amendments to be offered. I encourage people, on our side of the aisle in particular, if they have amendments, to offer them. At present, I have no amendments personally. I was able to be involved in the resolution of ratification that Senator Lugar and I drafted early during the committee. But I know a number of my colleagues have been wanting to offer amendments. It seems like there is a lot of time for that to occur today. That ought to be forthcoming so we can get on. I have some comments I would like to make about the treaty and I guess concerns I have that we would introduce in the middle of this debate some political issues regarding the military that are unnecessary at this moment in time. That can be said later. But it is my hope we can move this along. I would like to ask the Senator from Massachusetts, through the Chair how the amendment process is working. I know there has been some question on our side about whether amendments to the treaty and amendments to the resolution itself can be offered at the same time. I think it would be helpful--because everybody is impatient. They are wanting to see the amendments come forward and let's move forward with this process. It would be good to know how that process actually would work.…”