Judd Gregg

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. I yield back the time.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, we have increased the funding for national defense by $30 billion in this bill in the core budget. We have increased it by $40 billion in the ancillary budget which funds alongside the core budget, putting it up to $90 billion. We have increased border and port security funding by $4 billion, and we already have in the pipeline something like $5 billion of unspent money for first responders and something like $3.5 billion for interoperability. This amendment is not needed, and it is a tax-and- spend amendment.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3137

Mr. GREGG. We are willing to accept this amendment. I ask unanimous consent the yeas and nays be vitiated and the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, this amendment doesn't guarantee that any money goes to the tribal authorities. All it does is raise the cap by $1 billion--increases taxes by $1 billion. It is entirely up to the Appropriations Committee how they spend money. We have no control over that. The practical effect of this amendment is simply tax and spend.

Mr. GREGG. I move to reconsider the vote and move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Change of Vote

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, with the approval of Senator Landrieu, I ask unanimous consent that her amendment No. 3112 be withdrawn.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, for the edification of our colleagues, when we complete the Collins amendment, the next five amendments after that--we have pending the Stabenow, Akaka, and Collins amendments--and the next five amendments after that will be the Lincoln amendment No. 3047; Grassley, an unnumbered amendment; Inhofe, No. 3093, I believe; Lincoln, No. 3106; Kerry, No. 3143. We are now on to Senator Stabenow. Amendment No. 3141

Mr. GREGG. I move to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, we are waiting for Senator Conrad. For the moment, we will have to skip over Senator Collins. I understand we are hopefully going to have an understanding relative to the next two amendments, which will be the Grassley and Lincoln amendments. That brings us to Senator Inhofe. We will come back to Senators Collins, Grassley, and Lincoln after this Inhofe vote. Amendment No. 3093

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on the five amendments we have put in order, the yeas and nays be deemed to have been granted, along with the seconds of those yeas and nays.

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

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the yeas and nays be vitiated on the Collins amendment No. 3064, and I ask unanimous consent that it be agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. Under the previous agreement, Mr. President, we are now going to turn to the Lincoln amendment No. 3106, followed by the Kerry amendment No. 4103, followed by the DeMint amendment No. 3087. Amendment No. 3106

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I appreciate the especially hard work of the Senator from North Dakota in reducing the number of amendments. I just wish we had been a little more successful because we will be here until 2 o'clock in the morning at the rate we are going. Amendments Nos. 3144, 3085, 3140, 3139, 3053, 3079, 3083, 3033; 3052, as modified, 3154, and 3059, En Bloc

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, in an effort to try to move things along, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be considered and agreed to en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table: Senator Obama's amendment No. 3144; Senator Ensign, amendment No. 3085; Senator Levin, amendment No. 3140; Senator Landrieu, amendment No. 3139; Senator Lincoln, amendment No. 3053; Senator DeWine, amendment No. 3079; Senator DeWine, amendment No. 3083; Senator DeWine, amendment No. 3033; Senator Santorum, amendment No. 3052, as modified; Senator Leahy, amendment No. 3154; and Senator Baucus, amendment No. 3059.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I renew my unanimous consent request reflecting all those amendments which have been read except for amendment No. 3052 of Mr. Santorum.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following two amendments which have not been filed be considered and agreed to en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table: Senator Salazar on PILT, and Senator Stabenow on borders.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I now believe that we are on the amendment by Senator DeMint.

Mr. GREGG. I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. I understand the Senator from Nebraska will offer an amendment. Amendment No. 3116 Withdrawn

Mr. GREGG. We turn to the Senator from Minnesota. Amendment No. 3097

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I yield back time in opposition and ask that we proceed to the vote.