Orrin Hatch: “I believe in comity, and I have worked hard with my colleagues on the other side for comity. There have been innumerable…”

“I believe in comity, and I have worked hard with my colleagues on the other side for comity. There have been innumerable bills where the Democrats have brought up not-relevant amendments throughout this process. What has happened here is they think they have a good political issue in the minimum wage. There will be a vote on the minimum wage before this year is out, there is no question. I do not blame the majority leader, who is acting no differently than the distinguished Senator from South Dakota when he was majority leader. I do not blame the majority leader for wanting to be able to schedule that at the appropriate time, not on every bill. Also, in my whole time in the Senate I do not remember a period of time like the last 2 years where almost everything is filibustered, where it takes a cloture vote to be able to end the debate. I think part of that came because our friends on the other side did not like the Contract With America. They did not want it to succeed. They have a right to fight against it, and they have a right to filibuster against these--but not everything. I have to admit, as somebody who has utilized the filibuster in the past and is known as somebody who can utilize it, I have used it very sparingly, only on major issues where there are clear-cut differences and where it is justified. But we have had a virtual slowdown on everything.”