[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1952-S1953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ETHICS REFORM

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I will express some anxiety about the fact 
we are not moving forward with legislation we need to be considering. 
Interestingly enough, I came from a briefing upstairs by the Secretary 
of Defense and the general from Central Command. It reminds Members of 
the things out there that we need to deal with.
  Members go home to their States and people talk about issues that are 
of interest to them--whether it is the economy, energy, budgets--and 
yet we find ourselves going day after day without being able to move 
forward to the topics that are of prime importance. Certainly, we 
should have the opportunity to talk about whatever people want to talk 
about. We should have the opportunity to discuss and debate issues, to 
come to conclusions on issues, but we need to come to a conclusion.
  It is embarrassing to see what has happened today. We had an 
opportunity to move toward to resolve one of the issues we had before 
the Senate, the lobbying issue, which needs to be resolved. I don't 
happen to think it is the biggest issue in the world, but we were in 
the process of finding ways to get to it in a bipartisan effort that 
collapsed because of one effort to derail what we are doing.
  I think we need to take a long look at ourselves. It would be good if 
we had a little time to lay out on a list those issues that are most 
important, the top-quality issues, and then really focus on those 
issues.
  I think to bring up something here that is totally unrelated to the 
lobbying reform issue, which simply caused us to be stalled on an issue 
that is being resolved--whether it is the 45-day period, whether it is 
the agreement that has come forth since--there was no real reason to 
bring this up on the floor at this time except to obstruct moving 
forward.
  I guess I am becoming sort of upset with the fact that we are not 
able to move forward. I think some of these things are pretty partisan 
issues, simply wanting to get this group out because there is something 
going on in the House to resolve that hard issue, and they do not want 
to be left behind. It is political. I am sorry, but that really is not 
what it is about to be on the Senate floor.
  So I will not take any more time, except, I guess, to express my 
frustration when we do have important issues to deal with. There are a 
lot of issues out there that are so important. We are

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talking about energy and how we get some issues resolved so we can 
deal, in the long term, with energy, which is a big issue for us not 
only because it is energy but because it affects everyone every day. It 
affects jobs. It affects the economy.
  I think one of the issues we need to be doing and continuously 
working on is health care so it is available for everyone and is 
affordable. We can make some changes there, there is no question.
  We need to make sure we are doing all we can in taking a long look at 
what is happening in the Middle East, and that we can get our job 
completed in Iraq, and make sure we do not end up being singularly 
involved with Iran. Those are some of the issues.
  I am, of course, very impressed with the way this system works and 
very impressed with the way this Senate works, but I do find sometimes 
that I think we get it all jammed up for reasons that are not really 
part of what we are here designated to do.
  So I just wanted to share my frustration with that and hope we can 
work with the leaders on both sides of the aisle to find some ways for 
us to address those issues that are before us for the American people, 
to do the job we are assigned to do and have the responsibility to do, 
and to move forward.
  It is frustrating to be here but once a day, for example, when there 
are lots of issues out there. Let's decide them, let's vote on them, 
let's get on with it, instead of--look at this place, empty, empty most 
of the day because we have an obstruction in the system.
  So, Mr. President, I hope we can find some ways to remedy the 
situation. And I certainly would like to be a part of finding those 
remedies.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Chafee). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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