[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14771]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, in this body, both sides need to exercise 
good faith. I appreciate very much what the distinguished Republican 
leader has been able to work out in the last couple hours. We are going 
to do our very best. This is a very difficult time we find ourselves in 
in our country. We have housing matters for which I have had three 
calls today from the Secretary of the Treasury, and he does not call me 
very often. It is a very serious situation we have with housing. We are 
trying to get the House to do what we think is right for this country. 
We know the energy issue is right for our trying to do something.
  So, Mr. President, I am going to do my very best. I have expressed to 
the distinguished Republican leader, unless there is something I do not 
understand that comes up untoward, we are going to have all those 10 
amendments debated and voted upon. And I indicated to the Republican 
leader that there will be no cloture filed unless he thinks it is 
appropriate. And if he does not want his fingerprints on it, I will do 
it on my own, but he will be closely advised of anything we do in that 
regard.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me just say to the majority leader, 
this is a good way to go forward. This consent agreement was rather 
painfully achieved last week, and I am glad to hear his representation 
that we will vote on the 10 amendments. I think all of our Members are 
more than happy to have short time agreements, process the amendments, 
and move on.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Biden and Lugar, I 
call up the managers' amendment, which Senator Lugar was on the floor 
wanting to do earlier today, but because of issues he was unable to do 
that. So this is the substitute amendment.

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