[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 166 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S14952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a 
period for morning business for up to 65 minutes, with the time divided 
as follows:
  Senators Dorgan and Kyl be recognized first in this order for up to 1 
minute each; the next 20 minutes be divided with the Democratic side in 
control of the first 5 minutes, to be followed by 5 minutes under the 
control of the Republican side, to be followed by an additional 5 
minutes for the Republican side, with the final 5 minutes under 
Democratic control.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the next period of time be 
divided, as follows:
  Each side be permitted to ask up to four 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; to be followed 
by an additional minute by the first side, with the Republicans to ask 
the first question.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the next 8 minutes be allotted 
in 2-minute segments alternating with the Democrats first and the 
Republicans concluding; further, that Senator Dorgan then be recognized 
to speak for up to 1 minute, to be followed by Senator Kyl for the 
final minute; that upon the yielding of the floor, any debate time 
remaining during that period of controlled time be yielded back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, let me announce to my colleagues that this is 
the second in a series of scheduled debates between the Republican and 
Democratic sides of the Senate on subjects of importance to the 
American people to be conducted in actual debate format. Rather than 
the usual situation where we speak to an empty Chamber or talk across 
each other, we have actually set up a debate in which two Republicans 
and two Democrats will tackle a subject of interest today and respond 
to each other and engage in debate the way it was originally intended 
by our Founders and by the people who set up the rules of the Senate.
  All of the speakers will go through the Chair, but they will be 
addressing this subject in prepared remarks and then in rebuttal and 
response to each other. Senator Dorgan and I, who chair our respective 
policy committees, hope we can thus establish a precedent in this body 
that at least once a month we will pick a topic and engage in debates 
the way it was intended to be. We hope both our colleagues and the 
American people will be edified by this process, not to mention the 
other Senators in the body.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has used 1 minute. The Senator 
from North Dakota.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, before we begin, let me say to my 
colleague from Arizona that I think this is a good idea. We will engage 
now for the second time today in a debate about a specific topic. We 
will do it for 1 hour talking about something that is very important to 
the country. In this circumstance, it is going to be jobs and economic 
policies that create jobs.
  This Senate is considered the greatest deliberative body in the world 
and, from time to time, people might tune in and wonder whether that 
description best suits the Senate these days. I think it does, however.
  There are some extraordinary men and women who serve in this body, 
very capable of debating the issues. So Senator Kyl and myself, as 
chairmen of the respective policy committees, have decided to establish 
this 1-hour debate on important issues. I am going to participate in 
the debate on our side at this time, and I believe Senator Kyl will 
participate in a future debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has spoken for 1 minute.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I look forward to this debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democrats now have 5 minutes. The Senator 
from Iowa is recognized.

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