I would like to express my appreciation to Senator Chambliss. This is one of the least-discussed but more important parts of our bill, ag provisions. He has delineated weakness after weakness in this process. The idea is he had to…

one more thing. First, I agree with Senator Johnson. I offered an amendment on the earned-income tax credit in committee--and four of the Gang of 8 Members are on the committee-- and they all voted that down, as I recall, even though they…

we will have a vote before much longer on the question of whether the legislation before us violates the budget. I think that is going to be established quite clearly. The chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Murray--and I am the…

we just saw on the news today that the GDP for the first quarter, according to the Wall Street Journal, was revised downward dramatically from previous estimates. I am not saying there is anything wrong with their accounting, but they go…

I support Senator Vitter's motion. There are multiple points of order that could be raised against this legislation. They have declared a number of the spending programs emergencies; if you designate an appropriation as an emergency, it…

I think we should get a little perspective, at least as I see it, on the Corker-Hoeven-Schumer substitute that was voted on earlier, and we will vote on again. I think this is what happened. It became clear last week that the Gang of 8…

this is not a vote on the Hoeven amendment; it is a vote on the complete substitute of over 1,000 pages that includes all aspects of the bill before us. It includes amnesty, and it includes the failed entry-exit visa. If we vote for…

I will conclude by 5 till and yield to the Senator at that time. I think that will get us on the right track. I know there were discussions, and I was told earlier that would be the time that I would have. Then I was told they want you to…

Without the approval of the majority leader. Cloture Motion The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state. The legislative clerk read as follows…

Sixty? Senator Corker said he was using some of his time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Forty minutes.

I thank the Chair, but the cloture will be on the substitute which is 1,200 pages, not just the Senator's amendment, most of which I am supportive of. I think I could be supportive of much of it if we could make it effective. The Senator…

I appreciate the Senator saying that, but it is not going to happen because when we have cloture tonight, Senator Reid is going to be in complete control of the voting process. Amendments will be at his pleasure. There will be the…