Obstruction alert

The Senate continues to struggle with a way to proceed on the farm bill. From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin comes this broadside against the Republicans:


Republicans Continue to Block Debate on the Farm Bill

As Senate Republicans continue on their record-setting pace for filibusters, they are finding new ways to shut down business in the Senate. The Farm Bill was brought to the floor last week with a request by Majority Leader Harry Reid that only relevant amendments be considered. The Republican response? They objected. Now, after more than a week of negotiating, Republicans are still blocking debate. Today, Republicans have objected 5 times to considering bipartisan and even Republican amendments. Actions speak louder than words, and sadly Republican actions clearly show that they are more interested in slowing progress than actually passing the Farm Bill.


WHEN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED, REPUBLICANS OBJECTED TO LIMITING AMDENDMENTS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE FARM BILL

Senator Reid: Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendments to HR 2419 be relevant to the bill or to the substitute amendment.

The Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Objection, Mr. President. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/6/07]


AFTER A WEEK OF NEGOTIATING, REPUBLICANS ARE STILL BLOCKING DEBATE – OBJECTING 5 TIMES TODAY

OBJECTION #1

Senator Harkin: Mr. President, I see my friend, Senator Chambliss, is on the floor. I think we both are very frustrated. I don’t think, I know we’re both very frustrated that we are stymied on this Farm Bill. We’re just not moving anywhere. But in hopes that maybe we can get something moving, I’m going to propound some Unanimous Consent requests to see if we can’t break ahead and move ahead on this. So, Mr. President, I would inquire of my colleague, Senator Chambliss, as to whether or not we can agree to a time limitation for debate with respect to the pending Dorgan-Grassley Amendment.

Therefore, I would ask Unanimous Consent that there be 60 minutes of debate prior to a vote in relation to the Dorgan Amendment number 3508 with the time equally divided and controlled in the usual form, that upon the yielding back of the time, the Senate vote in relation to the amendment, that no second-degree amendment be in order prior to the vote.

Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President?

Presiding Officer: The Senator from Georgia.

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President, unfortunately based upon the status of the amendments at this point in time – based upon the status of the amendments at this point in time and based upon the comments by the Majority Leader this morning, that this point in time, I’m going to have to object. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/14/07]


OBJECTION #2

Senator Harkin: Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that we proceed to the Lugar-Lautenberg amendment regarding farm program reform, that there be two hours of debate with respect to the amendment prior to a vote, that no amendments be in order to the amendment prior to the vote, that the time be equally divided and controlled in the usual form, that upon the use of yielding back of the time the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the amendment.

Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Again, as much as I would love to accommodate the Chairman of the committee, based upon the status at this time and the comments of the Majority Leader this morning, I’ll have to object. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/14/07]


OBJECTION #3

Senator Harkin: In light of that objection, I would inquire whether we could enter into agreement on the Roberts Amendment Number 3448, that there be 90 minutes of debate with the time equally divided and controlled in the usual form, that upon the use of yielding back of time, Senate proceed to vote in relation to the – the Senate proceed to vote in the relation to the Amendment with no Second-Degree Amendment in order prior to the vote.

Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President?

Presiding Officer: The Senator from Georgia.

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President, again, based upon the process that we’re now involved in and the comments by the Majority Leader this morning relative to the Farm Bill, I’ll have to object. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/14/07]


OBJECTION #4

Senator Harkin: Well, Mr. President, let’s see if there could be agreement to consider the Stevens amendment number 3569. Again, that there be 60 minutes of debate prior to a vote in relation to the amendment, with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote and that the time be equally divided and controlled in the usual form, that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Amendment.

Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President, once again based upon the process we’re now engaged in and the comments of the Majority Leader this morning, I’ll have to object. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/14/07]


OBJECTION #5

Senator Harkin: Mr. President, I would ask Unanimous Consent that we proceed to the Allard amendment number 3572, that there be 60 minutes of debate prior to a vote in relation to the amendment with the time equally divided and controlled in the usual form, with no second-degree amendment in order prior to the vote, that upon the use or yielding back of the time, the senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendment.

Presiding Officer: Is there objection?

Senator Chambliss: Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Presiding Officer: The Senator from Georgia.

Senator Chambliss: I would say that there may be some common ground. Iwould ask Unanimous Consent that the Unanimous Consent request of the chairman be modified and that the pending amendments and motion to recommit be withdrawn and that the only amendments in order be the bipartisan list of first-degree amendments that i have sent to the desk and that all first-degree amendments be subject to relevant second-degree amendments.

Presiding Officer: Does the Senator so modify his request?

Senator Harkin: Mr. President, and I’m certain the Senator will have another unanimous consent request of his own very shortly, as he just ennunciated. Mr. President, have just profounded five requests for votes in relation to amendments that are relevant to the Farm Bill. As we heard, there was an objection to each one of those. [Senate Floor Proceedings, 11/14/07]