Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Kaufman.) Without objection, it is so ordered. Kagan Nomination

Mr. President, I wish to speak on a very serious issue relating to the confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court of the United States. As I was preparing for her hearings, I noted what struck me as a disturbing…

Mr. President, the week before last, we had the hearing on Elena Kagan for her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is a tremendously serious and important position. Five members of the Supreme Court--not just nine but only…

I think that is correct. I appreciate the way the Wall Street Journal expressed that. I think that is a legitimate position. I hope the nominee will take very seriously those concerns and will respond promptly to the questions we have…

Well, I think that is exactly correct. I will say that whether or not being a high official in this administration, which is so committed to passing this legislation, whether that in itself legally requires a person to recuse themselves on…

This is a fundamental question. The Constitution gives the U.S. Government the right to regulate interstate commerce, that is true. The Supreme Court, at times, has taken a most minimal effect on interstate commerce and says the Federal…

I believe that is correct. The standard is, among other things, if your impartiality might reasonably be questioned--and many judges are very sensitive about this--if you own a bunch of stock and you have one share in a big company like…

Mr. President, let me ask the Senator, on that question, are the American people right or are the people who promoted this bill right? Are costs going up and is the quality of health care going down? What is the Senator's opinion?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Cherryville, North Carolina (Mr. McHenry). Mr. McHENRY. I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this closed rule and to…

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Fullerton, California (Mr. Royce), from the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the gentleman who was speaking that we know what happened, and it's called pin-the-tail-on- the-donkey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hinsdale, Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), from the…