Judd Gregg

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, this motion is fairly simple but very important. Since our country began in 1789, we have been adding debt to the American people. All this says is that all the debt that has been run up, from 1789 to 2009, through January 20, 2009, that that total debt should not be exceeded during the term of this budget. It seems like a fairly reasonable request. If we do not follow it, we are going to end up passing on a debt to our children that they cannot support. I hope people will support this limitation on the addition of debt to our Nation and to our children.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, with my additional time, I would simply note if that is the position the majority takes, then everybody should vote for it.

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. We have some questions on our side. Hopefully, we can clear them up. I ask the Senator, can we move on to the next amendment and move back to yours?

Mr. GREGG. Reserving the right to object, the wrong number was announced on Brownback. The number is 840.

Mr. GREGG. Will the Senator allow us to do a unanimous consent?

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I yield the Senator 3 minutes.

Mr. GREGG. How much time is still pending for the various parties?

Mr. GREGG. I see the Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I will yield myself a few minutes.

Mr. GREGG. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, we had represented to our colleagues that we would begin voting at 11:30. We have an inordinate number of votes already in the queue. I hope people will appreciate the fact that the number of amendments pending right now is going to take us well into the evening tonight, headed toward midnight. I recognize everybody wants to get their amendment up, and that is their right, but I would simply counsel that if we are going to complete this bill--which probably I should not counsel for since I am not for it, but as a practical matter, if we are going to complete this bill, we need to be a little bit judicious as we ask for votes on amendments; otherwise, we will be here well into Friday, if not into Saturday at this rate. At this point, in order to recognize the fact that we are already behind schedule a little bit, I would suggest to the chairman that we yield back all time, even though I had a brilliant statement in opposition to the bill.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I wish to speak in support of the Ensign amendment. It should have been done long ago. There is no reason that people who are working in a restaurant or at Wal-Mart in New Hampshire should have to subsidize Warren Buffett's drugs, which is what happens under present law. There is no requirement that people who are wealthy have to pay anything on Part D premiums. I certainly hope we will approve the Ensign amendment. At this point, I suggest that we yield back all time.

Mr. GREGG. I do have 10 minutes left, so I will yield the Senator 5 minutes. I, first, wish to take a minute, however, to say I appreciate Senator McCain's full substitute. I think it is a very positive substitute. It does what the American people need to have done. It controls spending in the outyears. The essence of the problem with the budget that has been brought forward by the President and by the Senator from North Dakota is that in the outyears, the debt explodes and it explodes as a result of an explosion in spending. Senator McCain has taken an aggressive effort to try to change that course of action so our kids have an affordable Government. I congratulate him for it. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Nevada.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, 33\1/2\ hours.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. GREGG. I know the Senator mentioned this, but I wish to reinforce it. This was a proposal that came from President Obama's administration and it was in his budget; is that correct?

Mr. GREGG. We yield back all time, and we will go to the vote on the Ensign amendment.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. GREGG. The next amendment is Senator McCain, I believe. Amendment No. 882, as Modified

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

Mr. GREGG. Reserving the right to object, we do not have copies of the side by sides. I suggest we hold those four that are involved until we get a copy of the side by sides. That would be the Democratic side by side to Bennett, the Bennett, the Democratic side by side to Enzi, and the Enzi.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. GREGG

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

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