[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 130 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a 
period of morning business not to exceed 70 minutes with the time 
divided as follows: Senators Kyl and Dorgan in control of the first 5 
minutes, which will be equally divided; the majority leader or designee 
in control of the next 6 minutes; the minority leader or designee in 
control of the second 6-minute period; the minority leader or designee 
in control of the next 6 minutes; the majority leader or designee in 
control of the final 6-minute period.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the next period of time be 
divided as follows: Each side permitted to ask up to five questions for 
up to 1 minute each in an alternating fashion, to be followed by a 
response of up to 2 minutes to be controlled by the other side of the 
aisle, with the Democrats to ask the first question.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the final 10 minutes be equally 
divided for closing comments.
  Finally, I ask unanimous consent that upon yielding of the floor, any 
debate time remaining during that period of controlled time be yielded 
back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the time on this side will be controlled by 
the Senator from Illinois, Mr. Durbin, rather than the Democratic 
leader.
  Mr. KYL. Time on the Republican side will be controlled by Senator 
Santorum or Senator Sununu.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, let me explain what that very rapidly read 
unanimous consent order provides for. Senator Dorgan and I chair the 
policy committees of the Democratic and Republican sides and have 
agreed that every month or so we should have a debate which is really a 
debate, rather than just a bunch of speeches read, which frequently 
characterizes what passes for debate here on the Senate floor. Our 
constituents might tune in and see us reading speeches and wonder 
whether we have a debate on a specific issue where we mix it up 
together, respond to each other's points, and have that all relative to 
a very specific question.
  So we agreed we would do that; we would try to pick a topic that was 
not really current: that we would have different Members on each side 
engage in these debates when they were held. And we agreed that the 
first debate topic would be on the general subject of Social Security.
  As a result, tonight we have the first of these debates with two 
Members from the Republican side and two Members from the Democratic 
side debating a general topic relating to Social Security. All of the 
requests for time will be through the President, of course, pursuant to 
this unanimous consent agreement.
  It is hoped that as a result of Democrats responding to Republicans 
and vice versa, asking each other questions, actually there may some 
elucidation, some light that would come out of this debate, rather than 
heat, and that we could agree or disagree in an agreeable spirit on an 
important topic to people around this country.
  I am looking forward to this debate. This will be the first of our 
experiments. Obviously, if the participants have suggestions about how 
to conduct future debates, we would like to hear those so we can 
continue, and maybe it will become a tradition in the Senate. I think 
we are ready for that.
  The debate will be started with Senator Sununu from New Hampshire and 
therefore, again, with Senators Sununu and Santorum having time on this 
side. I yield now to the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr. Sununu.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire is recognized.

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