Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I hope our colleagues will not vote for the amendment. The Senate just voted overwhelmingly to put almost $1 billion…”

“I hope our colleagues will not vote for the amendment. The Senate just voted overwhelmingly to put almost $1 billion into port security. That is the right thing to do, but the right way to pay for it is out of the 920 account. To make this a priority, let us do it right. The Menendez amendment would increase taxes to pay for port security. We do not need to do that. What we should do is the right thing--provide more inspectors and make sure our ports are secure, and do it the right way with real money that is already there. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coburn). The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The yeas and nays have been ordered, and the clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senator was necessarily absent: the Senator from Minnesota (Mr. Coleman). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Minnesota (Mr. Coleman) would have voted ``nay.''”