Robert Byrd

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I do not know how serious this request is. I would like to know first. I will reserve an objection. I know the Senator wants to have a 10-minute vote. I know that.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, what is the request?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I would like to speak for 30 minutes on the matter of reconciliation. Is it expected in the morning we will have an opportunity to speak before that bill is taken up?

Mr. BYRD. I am not talking about the two votes. My 30 minutes I do not want taken out of the 20 hours tomorrow. I wanted to make it today. I wanted to make it today between the votes so that it would not----

Mr. BYRD. No. I did not say 20 minutes.

Mr. BYRD. I do not expect to object, but I want to be clear on two things. No. 1, when we have a quorum call here, we should be able to hear the clerk call the names. No. 2, the 30 minutes that are reserved for me to speak----

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I object.

Mr. BYRD. I object.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BYRD. Let's make that 5 minutes.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I object. If it is only going to be 1 minute, I object. I want an explanation on this. We will have it or we will have a quorum call and that will take far longer than an explanation would require. I want to know what this amendment is about.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, may we have an explanation of the amendment?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I object to the request.

Mr. BYRD. I would like to speak following those two votes.

Mr. BYRD. As I understand it, two votes are locked in already.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, will the Senator from Vermont yield?

Mr. BYRD. I do not have the floor. I was reserving the right to object.

Mr. BYRD. I would like to speak immediately after those votes.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I do not want to speak to an empty Chamber on the matter of reconciliation. So I would like to speak immediately after the next two votes, which I understand are already scheduled. Am I correct?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Mr. BYRD. I regret I was sitting immediately behind the distinguished Senator and I did not understand his request. Would he mind repeating the request.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I remove my reservation.

Mr. BYRD. May I ask the distinguished majority leader a question. There is a request before the Senate to limit this next vote to 10 minutes, and the only way that can happen is if the majority leader steps in at the end of the 10 minutes and closes this vote. Having been the majority leader, I do not think it is unfair for me to ask the majority leader if he intends to enforce this request if it is agreed to, and only the leader can enforce it.