Saxby Chambliss

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, the Senator from Kansas, Mr. Roberts.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, I have one comment on the statement the Senator from Illinois made. Let me make sure there is no misunderstanding because he misstated something. This amendment has nothing to do with amount of payments. This has to do with the eligibility of payments. I assure you, anyone who has an adjusted gross income of $750,000 from a farming operation, which is required under the bill that is before this body, has invested millions and millions of dollars into their trough in order to be able to achieve that goal, and they probably had a pretty good year to do that. There is nothing in this amendment that says to that farmer, if you lose all those millions of dollars, that we are going to do something for your benefit. That is what our safety net is all about. That is why this is such a bad amendment. I yield the balance of the time remaining on this side to the Senator from Arkansas, Mrs. Lincoln.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, this amendment would prevent businesses from using legitimate business justifications as a defense against claims of unlawful practice under the Packers and Stockyards Act. This is clearly a determination that should be left to the discretion of the courts and not summarily decided in advance by Congress. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I am sorry, what is the question?

Mr. CHAMBLISS. The Senator can talk and we will take our 2, and then he can close.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. The Senator shall have 3 additional minutes.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, there was an understanding that Senator Grassley would be recognized for up to 5 minutes following Senator Roberts.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. The Senator is correct. The normal procedure would be to go back and forth. After Senator Grassley, Senator Brown will be recognized, and then I ask that Senator Conrad be recognized after Senator Brown.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I yield 15 minutes to the Senator from Kansas, Mr. Roberts.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I ask unanimous consent for an additional 5 minutes for both sides.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, how much time do we have remaining?

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from North Carolina.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, we are fine with that.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, could we have unanimous consent that we get 3 additional minutes on both sides?

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Kansas, Mr. Roberts.

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

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Madam President, I yield 15 minutes to the Senator from Kansas.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, can I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CHAMBLISS

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I believe the Coburn amendment is also germane.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. I thank the Senator.

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Will the gentleman yield for a question?

Mr. CHAMBLISS. Is it the intent of the provision to imply or provide that agricultural or exempt futures contracts that are not currently legal futures contracts, are somehow legal because of these new provisions?