[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as we all know, this is the time for the 
vote-arama or whatever we want to call it. It is usually an exciting 
day, but it is a difficult day. I have conferred with the two 
Republican leaders, and what we are going to do--and I ask unanimous 
consent that this be the case--the first vote we are going to have will 
occur sometime around 11 o'clock. The first vote will be 15 minutes 
plus 5, like we do. After that, they will be 10 minutes straight, no 
wiggle time at all. Senator Conrad and Senator Gregg have been through 
this many times. We tried 5 minutes; it doesn't work. But 10 minutes we 
are going to do. This is going to apply to my side of the aisle and the 
other side of the aisle, the 10 minutes. We are going to cut things 
off, if people miss votes.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Will the leader yield? That would include, of course, 
the 1-minute explanation of the amendment on each side.
  Mr. REID. Of course. I appreciate that very much. As my friend 
indicated, prior to each vote there will be 1 minute on each side, pro 
and con. I also have asked the Parliamentarian to enforce this. I say 
to the Chair, and I hope you will notify your successor, we are going 
to gavel people after 1 minute. These 1-minute speeches drag on for 3 
or 4 minutes. That takes away from what we are supposed to do. The 1 
minute is something we have kind of traditionally started doing. There 
is nothing in the rules to say you have any time.
  I ask unanimous consent that the first vote be 15 minutes plus 5, 
subsequent votes will be 10 minutes, with no wiggle room after that, 
and that there be 1 minute on each side on each amendment and that the 
Chair will enforce the 1 minute.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, my final request would be that the Senator 
from Ohio, Mr. Brown, be given 5 minutes to speak as in morning 
business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent for 3 minutes for Senator Kennedy.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from Ohio.

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