Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from California [Mrs. Boxer] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. If the Senator will yield for another question? I just do not want to leave him out there without our trying to help our side a little bit.

Mr. FORD. Two weeks with CBO, now.

Mr. FORD. I do not want him to yield. I just want to ask a question. Was not part of that delay, 2 weeks that it took CBO to score what was offered?

Mr. FORD. Yes. Sure.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, the principles that we agreed to in the beginning are excluded from this resolution that was sent over to us from the House. I think the majority leader readily agreed that they should have been in it, a few moments ago. He even suggested that he would accept whatever the Democratic leader might put together as an amendment and you could then alter this resolution to accommodate that. So, really, I do not know why we are talking about it tonight. Everybody is agreeable. Unless you are trying to make a point that you made yesterday and the day before and the day before that. And people are trying to work things out. The principles here, that we had put in there, are the things that are very dear to all of us. The majority leader did not object to it. In fact, he was very gracious in offering the Democratic leader an opportunity to give an amendment which he would modify. So I think we will do that tomorrow. So the only agreement is on principle, I say to my friend from Florida.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. The budget that was presented reduced it $89 billion, the first one out of the box.

Mr. FORD. What budget has the Senator seen that has not reduced Medicare? What budget has the Senator seen that does not reduce Medicare?

Mr. FORD. I just asked the Senator a question.

Mr. FORD. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. FORD. Take it back, but be careful and be accurate.

Mr. FORD. We would love for you to.

Mr. FORD. What about the second offer?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Delaware [Mr. Biden], the Senator from Connecticut [Mr. Dodd], the Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Kerry], the Senator from Maryland [Ms. Mikulski], and the Senator from West Virginia [Mr. Rockefeller] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I understand that S. 1472, Federal Judges for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, introduced earlier today by Senator Breaux, is at the desk.

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask for the first reading.

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask for the second reading.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I thought we might get a clean CR until January 20, and we could work out something with the balanced budget amendment.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. That is right--for you, double. [Laughter.]

Mr. FORD. Madam President, there is always euphoria at times around here, and we usually have to put the needle into the balloon, and I will just do that now. [Laughter.]

Mr. FORD. The Senator from Kentucky has a lot of spirit, Senator.

Mr. FORD. I always look forward to another chance. At 72, I have had second chances for a long time. 

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Conurrent Resolution 36, a concurrent resolution introduced earlier today by Senator Levin; that the resolution be read and adopted; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. May we have order, Mr. President?