[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 172 (Sunday, November 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The minority leader is recognized.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I share the view expressed by the 
majority leader about the need for us to accommodate as many Senators 
as possible. It is my understanding that there is no objection to 
actually locking in a 30-minute time limit. Senators are free, of 
course, to ask unanimous consent to extend if they wish. So at this 
time I propound that request.
  I ask unanimous consent that Senators be limited to no more than 30 
minutes during the debate today.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and I do not 
intend to object, I just want to clarify one matter. My understanding 
is, and it is printed in the calendar, that there is already an order 
of speakers that has been established. I want to make clear that that 
will be recognized as we go forward today. I certainly will not object 
to the request of the distinguished minority leader. I just want to be 
clear that that will be the order of the speakers.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the original 
request?

  The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Reserving the right to object on the order, I was 
referred to by my good friend, the majority leader, last evening at 
about 6:15 in reference to this legislation. The time-honored tradition 
of this body is to notify an individual when there is going to be 
reference made to them. I was not notified, and I heard later last 
evening that I was referred to. I indicated that to the leader. I would 
like to be able to do this in a timely way. I was listed yesterday to 
be either third or fourth in order, but I am not prepared right now--if 
there is some other previous order that has been arranged, I want to be 
able to reserve my rights that have been respected in this institution 
for 220 years, and that is when a Senator is referred to in terms of 
legislation, a fair opportunity is given for them to respond.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the original 
request?
  The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I hope that Senators would not ask to extend 
beyond half an hour because it is so difficult to object. We have a lot 
of people. We have 17 on this side. Multiply that by half an hour and 
one gets the figures. I hope everyone will stick by the half hour that 
will be entered into, hopefully, momentarily.
  I say to my friend from Massachusetts, the way the order is now set 
on our side, the majority leader would speak first. I would speak 
second. I would be happy to change places with the Senator from 
Massachusetts so he can go second, and I will go sixth or seventh.
  Mr. KENNEDY. The Senator from Nevada, as always, is more than kind 
and generous. I appreciate that very much. I have no objection.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to changing the order 
as the Senator from Nevada requested? Without objection, it is so 
ordered. The Senator from Massachusetts will take the place of the 
Senator from Nevada, and the Senator from Nevada will have the place in 
the order of the Senator from Massachusetts.
  Is there objection to the minority leader's time limit of 30 minutes 
per speaker?
  The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, the list that is published in the 
calendar only has Democratic Senators in it. Obviously, there is an 
alternative list that would allow for Republican Senators to have a 30-
minute block in between the Democratic Senators who speak.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Parliamentarian informs me the Senator 
is correct, that a Republican Senator will go after each Democratic 
speaker if someone is here to be recognized.
  Mr. FRIST. Let me also clarify that on the Republican side we are not 
locked into any order. The opponents to the bill are locked into an 
order of speakers. Ours has been just an agreement, so we are not 
locked into any order, but there will be a 30-minute limit, and we will 
be alternating back and forth.
  Mr. BUNNING. I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the minority 
leader's request? Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Who seeks time?

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