Senate Proceeding on Jan 5th, 2011 :: 3:27:15 to 3:28:45
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3:27:02 to 3:27:15( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: he is a thoughtful senator and a good legislator. i just ask my friend from texas this. just in listening to him, i -- i almost had the feeling that my friend from texas is saying that we ought to have a supermajority to pass anything.

3:27:15 to 3:28:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Cornyn

3:27:16 to 3:27:37( Edit History Discussion )

John Cornyn: that we should have 60 votes in order to pass anything. i ask my friend is -- is that what my friend really means or implies, that everything should have 60 votes before it can go through here? is that what my friend is suggesting? mr. cornyn: well, i appreciate the question from my friend, the senator from iowa. that's not what i'm suggesting, but i do think we need to have a

3:27:38 to 3:27:58( Edit History Discussion )

John Cornyn: process which allows for an opportunity for amendments and debates, and if we don't have a process requiring a threshold of 60 votes, the temptation is going to be again for the majority leader to -- to deny opportunity for amendments, constrict the time allowed for an amendment by -- or for debate by filing cloture, and we're going to see things shooting

3:27:59 to 3:28:19( Edit History Discussion )

John Cornyn: through here that have not had an adequate opportunity for deliberation. you know, we -- this institution has famously been called the world's greatest deliberative body, but i dare say we haven't demonstrated that in recent memory. and i -- again, i think as the senator from tennessee and

3:28:20 to 3:28:40( Edit History Discussion )

John Cornyn: others have observed, this isn't a problem with the rules. this is the way the rules have actually been implemented, and i think we have learned an important lesson from this and one that i hope will -- will help us respect the rights of all senators, whether they be in the majority or minority, to offer amendments and to debate these amendments. not because they are about our

3:28:41 to 3:28:47( Edit History Discussion )

John Cornyn: rights but they are about the rights, for example, of the 25 million people i represent. they have the right to be heard.