Orrin Hatch: “I have been really interested in this debate. Let's just be honest about it. The Senate is being run in a shoddy…”

“I have been really interested in this debate. Let's just be honest about it. The Senate is being run in a shoddy fashion. I don't care which side you are on. I have only been here 38 years, and I have never seen a bigger mess than we have right now. I have never seen the majority stifling amendments by the minority like we have right now. I have never seen cloture filed almost immediately when a bill is brought up, like we are filibustering when we are not. All we want are amendments and to have a vote up or down-- something we always gave the Democrats on crucial bills like this one. It is pathetic, and it has to change. Frankly, if the American people really knew--we have had nine amendments since last July that we voted on. The Democrats have had only seven. Now, even some of my Democratic friends are up in arms about it. They are not able to act as Senators. They are not able to do the work. They are not able to be part of it. I mean, my gosh, is protecting your side from the election--is that more important than having the Senate run the way it should? The answer to that is a resounding no. This is pathetic. I have never seen anything like it. To come out here and act holier-than-thou about it, as if it is just normal around here, is just plain wrong, and everybody knows it. That is the thing that just kills me.…”