Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. People might want to speak to which amendment? To the amendment you were referring to?

Mr. DOMENICI. Could we agree where we are going? There is an amendment up shortly, is there not?

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I have not propounded a unanimous consent request. I just wanted to know how much time is left to Senator Cantwell.

Mr. DOMENICI. Yes.

Mr. DOMENICI. Yes, there is objection.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I don't want to object to the Senator from California speaking. I just want to remind the Senator and the Senate, this amendment has been on the floor 3 hours--not 3 minutes, not 30 minutes, 3 hours. We are supposed to vote, generally, when 3 hours is up. Three hours will be up in a few minutes. I would like to proceed and vote. I have a few minutes. I don't know that I need it. But I really don't think I am being unfair in suggesting to the Senator that perhaps, so we can vote on an amendment that has been pending for 3 hours, if you could take half the time you requested so we can proceed to vote, I would have no objection.

Mr. DOMENICI. I have not.

Mr. DOMENICI. I don't think it is fair for the Senator--I am going to give her time, but I don't think it is fair for her to give a speech this way. She knows she is going to get time, and she can just be patient like every other Senator, if you don't mind.

Mr. DOMENICI. I thank you. Might I say to the Senate, the Senator from New Mexico has responded to an amendment. Never once did I say there was no market manipulation. I don't intend that every time any of us gives a speech, that somebody come to the floor when there are time agreements and decide they would like to give a speech on something they heard. I said there are studies that say market manipulation was not the principal reason for what happened. If the Senator would like to speak, I would ask her if she would speak for a little less time so we can proceed, since the time is up. I can object, and we will vote. And then you can speak after the vote.

Mr. DOMENICI. I am pleased to.

Mr. DOMENICI. I wanted to ask the Senator if he wanted to object at this point. He is not going to object. How much time did the Senator ask for?

Mr. DOMENICI. I wonder if you would take 10 minutes.

Mr. DOMENICI. All right, 10 minutes, so long as we understand. I ask unanimous consent that she have 10 minutes, after which time we will finish the time allowed and then we will vote on the pending amendment.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for getting her remarks down to 10 minutes. How much time does Senator Cantwell have?

Mr. DOMENICI. Does she want to deliver her remarks? I yield the floor.

Mr. DOMENICI. I will wait for a while.

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. I object.

Mr. DOMENICI. Does the Senator want to offer a second-degree amendment to the electricity amendment?

Mr. DOMENICI. I did not know that. I did not understand that.

Mr. DOMENICI. Well, they have all been currently set aside for amendments to the electricity amendment, Madam President. That is why I wondered, what is the need for the unanimous consent request?

Mr. DOMENICI. I have no objection to the request.

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, if somebody is discussing an amendment, and there is business on the floor of the Senate, we will not recess; we will work.

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I was informed a while ago by my good friend, the whip, Senator Reid, that as soon as we finish this amendment--and I think we are finished; I am not quite sure whether the proponents have finished--Senator Byrd wanted to speak. I ask Senator Byrd, since he is here, if that is the case. And then I ask if I could speak following Senator Byrd, if he has no objection. I ask that after the distinguished Senator Byrd completes his remarks, the Senator from New Mexico be recognized.

Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, the Senator has no right to decide who speaks. They have to seek recognition.

Mr. DOMENICI. The Senator cannot dole out the time. He has no right to dole the time out to other Senators, Madam President.