Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I come to the floor today in my capacity as the ranking member of the Senate aviation subcommittee. I would like to take…”

“I come to the floor today in my capacity as the ranking member of the Senate aviation subcommittee. I would like to take a few minutes to discuss the Senate FAA reauthorization bill and the substitute on which we will be voting later this afternoon and respond to some of the recent remarks that have been made on this process. The lack of progress last week and the parliamentary action of filling the amendment tree are very disappointing to me. Today, for the 19th time this session, we will be asked to vote on cloture on a bill we have not even had open to amendment. In the present situation, we are being asked to vote on cloture before we have cast a single vote on an amendment. What the leader is doing is blocking amendments, preventing debate, forcing a cloture vote, and hoping the Republicans vote against it. Then press releases will be sent out blaming Republicans for obstructionism. But I have to say, what is obstruction? I don't think most Americans would define obstruction as insisting that an FAA bill; that is, the Federal Aviation Administration, not include unnecessary and imprudent tax increases, even worse retroactive tax increases, unrelated to aviation. I have suggested several options in an attempt to produce an FAA reauthorization package upon which most Members could agree. But those suggestions have been turned down by the other side.”