[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ACTIONS OF THIS CONGRESS

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I want to talk today a little bit about the 
progress we are making relative to securing our borders in the United 
States as a result of efforts made by this Congress and the 
administration. Before I do, I want to comment briefly on the 
presentation of the Senator from Illinois relative to the actions of 
this Congress and its passage of legislation or its investigative 
activity.
  It is truly disingenuous when the assistant leader of the Democratic 
side comes to the floor and says we have done nothing as a Congress 
when almost every major piece of legislation that has been brought to 
the floor of this Senate has been filibustered by the other side of the 
aisle. Bill after bill after bill has been stymied, stopped and, in 
fact--it is no secret--there is an open understanding around here that 
the purpose of the Democratic leadership has been to make it virtually 
impossible to pass legislation in the Senate in order that the Senate 
appear to be an ineffective body--their feeling being that if they can 
obstruct enough things, they can make an argument that Congress isn't 
functioning and they should be put in charge.
  It is an ironic position, of course, and has been on a number of 
times characterized as being similar to the situation when a man who 
shot both his parents, when brought before the court, asked for mercy 
because he declared himself an orphan. The fact is that the Democratic 
leadership of this body has decided to actively obstruct and try to 
stop almost any legislation of any significance that has come to the 
floor and, as a result, many things have been stopped because, as we 
all know, this is a body which functions essentially on a 60-vote 
majority, not a 51-vote majority. So, therefore, even though the 
Republican Party has 55 votes, we cannot pass something if there is 
united opposition. It has happened again and again.
  I do find it a bit disingenuous to make this argument--it is their 
right to make it--but I think an honest reflection of what is actually 
happening around here makes the argument rather superficial and 
inadequate in its essence and its purpose.




                          ____________________