[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 15 (Thursday, January 29, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S611-S612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, let me say at the outset while the 
majority leader is still on the floor, it is true we have had a 
constructive relationship during the last several weeks as we have 
considered this bill. Although

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those of us on the Democratic side don't want to get comfortable in our 
minority status, we are determined to make sure it is, as described, a 
constructive relationship.
  To that end we have not used some of the tactics we have seen in past 
years. We have not insisted on burning 30 hours and 60 hours at a time, 
causing people who subscribe to C-SPAN to call their cable operators 
and say why am I paying for the Senate; nothing is happening. Instead, 
we have tried to use that time to put together packages, bipartisan 
packages of amendments and we have been successful.
  I hope we can continue with that. As long as there is mutual respect, 
good faith, and cooperation, I look forward to in my role--as soon as 
Senator Reid returns--as the whip on the Democratic side to do our best 
to continue this constructive relationship.
  I have said it before and I will say it again. What we have seen over 
the last several weeks is the Senate I remember, the Senate I was 
elected to, the Senate where there was active debate, deliberation, 
amendments. For some Members, it is a new experience. I hope in our 
role as the minority we can work with the Senators with a feeling of 
mutual respect to achieve at least debate on the floor, if not some 
significant legislation.
  Mr. McCONNELL. If the Senator would yield.
  Mr. DURBIN. I would be happy to yield.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I thank the Senator from Illinois for his comments. I 
agree, this has been good for the Senate, good for both parties, and 
good for America. We are getting back to normal, and I thank the 
Senator for his comments and for his cooperation.
  Mr. DURBIN. I thank the majority leader.

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