[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S35-S36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             TODAY'S AGENDA

  Mr. REID. Madam President, we are very close to working something out 
on committee funding. We have an agreement on the split. It is just a 
question of what we are splitting. I have a meeting today with the 
ranking members. I spoke to virtually all of them last night and we 
will be able to work something out here. It is important we do that. We 
have Members on our side, new Senators, we want to appoint to 
committees. The majority has new Members they need to appoint to 
committees. There will be some new committee chairs, new ranking 
members. We want to expedite this. We hope to have it done, as I told 
the distinguished Senator from Kentucky, by noon today. It is something 
we need to do. I am confident we can do that.

  On our side if, in fact, there is an objection filed to any of the 
States that are going to report their electoral college findings, we 
will not require a rollcall vote on our side, but that does not mean 
there won't be one. So whether there is an objection filed, we will 
wait and see at 1 o'clock today. After that, there will be decisions 
made by individual Senators as to whether there is a vote.
  Procedurally, as I understand the rule, if there is an objection 
filed, automatically the electoral college proceedings are put in 
recess for 2 hours. During that 2 hours, Members in the House and 
Senate are allowed to speak for up to 5 minutes each on the objection. 
Following that, the electoral college reconvenes. If, in fact, there is 
an objection filed, I think everything would be completed by around 4 
o'clock today.

[[Page S36]]

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I might say with regard to speaking 
requests, I only have one or two. They will be very brief. It is my 
hope we might not take the entire 2 hours the Democratic leader has 
outlined, thereby allowing us to get that job finished earlier in the 
afternoon.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, the distinguished Senator is again 
absolutely right. We have had a few requests on our side. At last 
count, I had less than five. That is 25 minutes, at most. But we cannot 
do anything until the House finishes. If they finish earlier, we would 
finish earlier and be able to move forward.
  We will see what the day brings us. But it should not be a long day, 
no matter what happens.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I yield the floor.

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