Orrin Hatch: “I thank my colleague. He is always gracious and a very fine man, and I enjoy serving with him very much. Cyber Security…”

“I thank my colleague. He is always gracious and a very fine man, and I enjoy serving with him very much. Cyber Security Mr. President, I was very disappointed that we were not able to proceed with the cyber security bill today. This side had the votes against cloture. The reason is because the Senate is not being run as an open Senate anymore. This is such an important bill. It is not some itty-bitty bill that we can call up and foreclose any amendments. In fact, most bills are not that are brought to the floor. I think if it were the other way around and the Republicans were in the majority and they started doing what we have been going through lately--I don't blame Senator Reid for this; I know it comes from his caucus. If we were pulling the same type of thing, I have to say the Democrats would be in orbit. Usually in the Senate we never build a procedural pyramid until after there has been a reasonable time for debate and open amendments. That is the way it is usually done. In recent months--frankly, over the last few years--they call up a bill, file cloture as though we are filibustering when we are not, and then tie up the parliamentary tree so we can't have amendments, in the greatest deliberative body in the world, supposedly. That has been very irritating to people on our side. I would caution my friends on the other side: This is getting to the point where it is becoming a matter of grave concern to everybody and irritation to everybody as well.…”