[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S9294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEBATE TIME ON IRAQ WAR POLICY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, listening to my good friend from 
Illinois, the majority whip, discussing the 60-vote threshold reminds 
me of what the majority leader said back on January 30, 2007:

       Sixty votes are required for just about everything. I have 
     talked with Senator McConnell about this. You know we have to 
     come up with a number of resolutions that require 60 votes 
     because, as you know in the Senate, a lot of times 60 votes 
     are required for just about everything.

  Now, that is life in the Senate. On the Defense authorization bill, 
we had two amendments last year, the Kennedy and Enzi amendments, and 
both required 60 votes. We are happy to have this debate tonight. It is 
my understanding the other side last evening agreed to accept the 
Cornyn amendment to the Defense authorization bill. As we indicated, we 
have a request for a rollcall vote on that amendment. However, we will 
be happy to schedule that vote at a reasonable time today. I am told--
and we heard again--that we plan to be here this evening leading up to 
the cloture vote on the Levin amendment, and we would be happy to have 
that vote today. There is no particular reason to have the Levin-Reed 
vote tomorrow; we could have it today.
  But look, it is perfectly fine with us to stay here today and this 
evening to discuss this very important issue. I couldn't agree with my 
friend from Illinois more that it is the significant issue in the 
country at this particular juncture. We will be prepared to work with 
the majority whip and the majority leader to work out a floor schedule 
that allows us to rotate back and forth on a regular basis throughout 
the afternoon and the evening, and we look forward to working that out 
in a way that is fair to both sides and gives us ample opportunity for 
a vigorous debate about this extremely important issue.
  I yield the floor.

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