[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 186 (Thursday, December 11, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10889-S10890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will 
proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak 
for up to 10 minutes each. Following morning business, the Senate will 
resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 7005, the 
legislative vehicle for the auto industry's financing and 
restructuring. Rollcall votes are possible during today's session in 
the Senate.
  When we left here a few weeks ago, the decision was made that there 
would be 1 week for the automobile industry to make presentations to 
the two committees of jurisdiction, the House and the Senate Banking 
Committees, to determine what would take place during the following 
week. That was last week, and hearings were held in both committees, 
and evidence, in fact, was taken. There have been weeks and weeks of 
work put into coming up with a piece of legislation on which we can 
vote. That matter is before the Senate in H.R. 7005.
  I have had calls from a number of Senators today--frankly, mostly 
Republican Senators--telling me that they have the solution to all of 
the problems of the auto industry; they need a few amendments. A few 
amendments. We have done our very best to include everyone who wants 
any input into this legislation. The White House, President Bush and 
his people have been heavily involved in this legislation. This is, in 
effect, the White House's legislation.
  There was a decision made that the minority would not participate in 
the preparing of this legislation. But the White House was heavily 
involved. Negotiations took place over days between Chairman Frank and 
Chairman Dodd and the White House, and we now have a piece of 
legislation. Some have asked: Well, what we want is to set up a 
procedure where we have lots of amendments, and then we will ultimately 
vote on the final version.
  I think it is only fair that if the minority, the Republicans, want 
to have a better bill, then they should offer an alternative. I invite 
them to do it. The House passed a bill last night. It would be my 
suggestion that we perhaps have a vote on the substitute or the 
alternative the Republicans would put forward, vote on the House bill, 
vote on the Senate bill. If there is no agreement that can be reached 
on that, we have danced this tune long enough.
  What we will do, we can have a motion to proceed to this tomorrow, 
and if the Republicans want to come and say, well, you know, you have 
not allowed us any opportunity to offer amendments--that is what has 
taken place for the last 2 years, and look what it got the Republicans: 
lost seven or eight Senate seats, lost the Presidency. We want to 
legislate, and we are doing the very best we can to do that.
  I have reached out to my Republican colleagues. As soon as the 
elections were over, I called a number of Republicans and said: We want 
to work with you. We cannot continue doing what we have done in the 
past. But we are right back where we have been for 2 years, the same 
place we have been for 2 years.
  So, again, I suggest that if the Republicans have an alternative, let 
them

[[Page S10890]]

offer that. It would be very easy to do. We could vote on a Republican 
alternative, we would have a vote on the White House proposal now 
before the Senate, and we would vote on the bill that passed the House 
and leave here. If that is not something the Republicans choose to do, 
then we will vote tomorrow on a motion to proceed to the bill that has 
been prepared, drafted, and had input on by the two committees and the 
White House. If we are not allowed to proceed to that, then we, in 
fact, will be through with this, as we have been through with numerous 
pieces of legislation through the past year.
  So, again, I invite the Republicans, if they have an alternative, to 
put it forward. They have had ample opportunity to do that. Again, I 
have received a number of phone calls from Republicans today saying: I 
have just the thing that needs to be done to make this a great piece of 
legislation. Well, I would hope they would be ready to do that. If not, 
we will have a vote tomorrow on a motion to proceed to H.R. 7005.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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