[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS

  Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the 
appropriations process we conduct here in the Senate, and have come 
here, as you have, in the not too distant past and been absolutely 
amazed by the lack of fiscal discipline that exists here in Washington. 
I know the Presiding Officer probably shares some of my views about the 
way we go through the appropriations process and the fact that at the 
end of the year, on many occasions, we end up with a large omnibus bill 
that does not give the American public, certainly not Senators and 
House Members, the ability to actually go through this process in a 
thoughtful way that respects the fact that these are our citizens' 
resources which we tend to bulk together in a way that it is not 
transparent.
  Our President, on March 11--and I agree with him very much on this--
said that future spending bills should be debated and voted on in an 
orderly way and sent to his desk without delay or obstruction so we 
don't face another massive last-minute omnibus bill like this one--and 
he was talking about the bill that we passed. I could not agree more 
with the President in that regard. I think what we have seen is that we 
have not had the ability to examine the thousands of earmarks that are 
placed in these bills. We have not had a process that is transparent. 
In an effort to aid this process in such a manner that we do have some 
degree of fiscal discipline in this body, 41 Republican Senators have 
signed a letter which states that we believe that by the August recess 
at least eight appropriations bills should be voted on in singular 
fashion--eight single bills by the August recess.
  This body has on many occasions taken up each appropriations bill by 
itself, fully debated it, discussed the earmarks, discussed the things 
that cause these bills not to be appropriate, had amendments, and 
passed these bills out of the Senate. So these 41 Republicans stand 
together urging the leader of the Senate, urging the Appropriations 
Committee to follow this best way of doing business, and that is to 
vote on these bills individually. Obviously, we hope this occurs. And 
certainly as part of the Senate process, in the event that we are not 
able to meet those objectives, we will avail ourselves of all 
appropriate procedural methods to ensure that is the case.
  Mr. President, I thank you for the time this morning, and I ask 
unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the letter signed by 
all 41 Republican Senators.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                   Washington, DC, March 24, 2009.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC,
       Dear Majority Leader Reid: As you develop the legislative 
     calendar for the rest of this fiscal year we believe it is 
     critical to allocate an appropriate amount of time for the 
     Senate to consider, vote and initiate the conference process 
     on each of the twelve appropriations bills independently 
     through a deliberative and transparent process on the Senate 
     floor.
       For a variety of reasons, over the past several years, the 
     Senate has failed to debate, amend and pass each of the bills 
     separately prior to the end of the fiscal year. Far too often 
     this has resulted in the creation of omnibus appropriations 
     bills that have been brought to the floor so late in the 
     fiscal year that Senators have been forced to either pass a 
     continuing resolution, shut down government or consider an 
     omnibus bill. These omnibus bills have not allowed for 
     adequate public review and have clouded what should otherwise 
     be a transparent process. As our President said on March 11, 
     2009, he expects future spending bills to be, ``. . . debated 
     and voted on in an orderly way and sent to (his) desk without 
     delay or obstruction so that we don't face another massive, 
     last minute omnibus bill like this one.''
       The Senate should begin floor consideration of the 
     appropriations bills during the early summer months to ensure 
     that an appropriate amount of time is available to examine, 
     debate and vote on amendments to the bills. We believe the 
     Senate should pass at least eight of the appropriations bills 
     by the August recess. In order to press for a more 
     transparent process, we will consider using all available 
     procedural tools to guarantee regular order for 
     appropriations bills.
       Noting our intentions, we hope you will plan accordingly as 
     you work with the leadership of the House to develop the 
     legislative calendar for the rest of this fiscal year. Thank 
     you for your time and consideration.
           Sincerely,
         Bob Corker; Thad Cochran; John McCain; Judd Gregg; Roger 
           F. Wicker; Jeff Sessions; David Vitter; Jim DeMint; 
           John Thune; Lindsey Graham; Lamar Alexander; John 
           Ensign; Saxby Chambliss; James M. Inhofe; Tom Coburn; 
           Robert F. Bennett; Jon Kyl; Richard Burr; Mel Martinez; 
           James E. Risch; John Barrasso; Michael B. Enzi; 
           Christopher S. Bond; Pat Roberts; George V. Voinovich; 
           Chuck Grassley; Mike Johanns; Arien Specter; Richard C. 
           Shelby; Mike Crapo; John Cornyn; Orrin G. Hatch; 
           Olympia J. Snowe; Susan M. Collins; Richard G. Lugar; 
           Johnny Isakson; Kay Bailey Hutchison; Lisa Murkowski; 
           Jim Bunning; Sam Brownback; Mitch McConnell.

  Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Would the Chair please advise me when I have used 10 
minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair will do so.

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