[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks the Senate will be 
in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control 
the first half, the Republicans the final half. Following morning 
business the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed 
to the Marketplace Fairness Act. From 12:30 today until 2:15 the Senate 
will be in a recess to allow for our weekly caucus meetings.
  Yesterday evening a number of Senators missed votes. We have talked 
about this a number of times and become somewhat complacent. We have 
votes for 15 minutes. We extend it for 5 minutes. We have extended that 
time for a long period of time.
  Because of procedural things around here in the Senate, I had to 
terminate that vote before 6 o'clock in an effort to save a full day of 
legislative business. Obviously, there is 30 hours following that 
cloture vote--wasted time. I have talked about it before, but there was 
no reason whatsoever that we went into Wednesday rather than Tuesday. 
So I do not apologize. Everyone here has to understand there are 
certain things we have to do around here.
  We have been somewhat lax in enforcing the length of votes. It is 
very unfair to people who vote and have other things to do to wait for 
others before the vote is terminated. I understand how important it is 
for people to do their votes, but it is also important to get our 
business done here. I repeat, had we not terminated that vote before 6 
o'clock, then it would have kicked us over until Wednesday before 
cloture could be filed on the bill. I do not know if I am going to file 
cloture on the bill today, but at least I have the opportunity to do 
that.

                          ____________________