[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, let me say these few minutes Senator 
McConnell and I have spent on the floor have been just a brief 
interlude, but getting to this point has taken hours and hours of 
people's time. I think we are at a point now where we have had a good 
debate over the last several days and we will have one today. We are 
moving into another contentious issue, which will be resolved Tuesday 
morning. So I think we have made great progress. I think it speaks well 
of the Senate, in spite of the closeness of the margin between 
Democrats and Republicans, that we are able to get things done. 
Sometimes it is a slow process in getting things done, but I am 
confident this is good for the body and the country.
  Mr. President, also it is important that everyone be notified--we 
were scheduled to have a vote Monday at 5:00 or 5:30--that it is not 
necessary. We have a lot of work going on. We have the debate on the 
budget that will take some time. We are going to complete this U.S. 
attorneys issue and we are going to complete three judges today. So in 
short, there is no need to have a judge's vote, though we have two 
remaining on the calendar, and I think we will accomplish what we need 
to do. So there will be no votes on Monday night.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me echo the remarks of the majority 
leader with regard to the painstaking process he and I have been 
through over the last day and a half trying to reach an agreement on 
the Iraq debate. I think it is an agreement that is satisfactory to 
both sides. It gives Senators an opportunity to express themselves on 
what is clearly, arguably, the most important issue on the minds of the 
American people at this particular juncture in our history, and we look 
forward to the debate starting shortly. Senator Inhofe will be here to 
control the time on our side, so let the debate begin.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the final 20 
minutes of the debate relating to matters regarding the Iraq 
resolutions, the first 10 minutes of the 20 minutes be for Senator 
McConnell, the second 10 minutes right before the vote be under my 
control.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. 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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