[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 684]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. RES. 10

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 10, a 
resolution to improve the debate and consideration of legislative 
matters and nominations in the Senate; that there be 6 hours for debate 
equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their 
designees, with no amendments in order; and that upon the use or 
yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on adoption of the 
resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I want 
to congratulate the Senator from New Mexico. He has been persistent and 
diligent and enormously well intentioned in this effort throughout the 
Rules Committee hearings and throughout the floor debate in seeking a 
way to help make the Senate function better, at the same time 
preserving the Senate as a forum for deliberation and protection of 
minority rights.
  We have a difference of opinion about whether that is best done by 
allowing changes of rules by 51 votes or by 67, which is the way the 
Senate rules currently prescribe. His proposal to change the rules 
certainly can be considered on the Senate floor in the regular order, 
and we would be happy to work with him to do that as long as it was by 
67 votes.
  So because of that difference of opinion, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Iowa.

                          ____________________