[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 44 (Thursday, April 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEBATE IN THE SENATE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will yield very quickly. I want to say 
this. I understand the procedures here in the Senate. I certainly 
understand the majority has the right of first recognition. If the 
majority decides they do not want us to participate in debate, it is 
difficult for us to be part of the debate.
  But I want the Record to be spread with the fact today we have 
heard--and I hope it is wrong--when we complete action today on the 
underlying bill, that is, the welfare bill, the majority is going to go 
to the floor and prevent us from being part of the debate; they are 
going to talk about what Democrats are doing is wrong and what they are 
doing is right, and not allow us to have recognition. Now I say, as the 
Chair is aware, that we heard once before, not long ago, the majority 
was going to do this, and you will recall at that time I got the floor 
and kept the floor for a long time. That did not set a good tone, that 
the majority was, in effect, trying to force us out of the debate. The 
Senate is a debating body, and we should be part of that.
  I say for the second time this morning, we know the majority can keep 
us from being recognized. It would set a very bad tone. I do not think 
it would be appropriate or fair, and we would do whatever we could to 
protect our right, and everyone should understand that.
  Mr. President, I yield, on the time we have remaining, 20 minutes to 
the Senator from New York.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Talent). The Senator from New York is 
recognized for 20 minutes.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I thank my leader from Nevada.

                          ____________________