Senate Live - July 26, 2006

S.3711
The Gulf of Mexico energy security bill

Being voted on this morning is a cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the consideration of the bill. It seems to me that raising an objection to taking up this bill violates the spirit of the UC agreement reached last week ...

Ordered, That if the Majority Leader or his designee introduces a bill related to energy on Thursday, July 20, 2006, it shall be in order to move to proceed to that legislation on Friday, July 21, 2006. (July 19, 2006.)

Sure, Monday isn't Friday, and it's legitimate to criticize Senate leadership for not moving to proceed to S.3711 on Friday, even late in the day, but objecting on Monday seems a cheap shot. Oh well, water over the dam.

The cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consider
S.3711 - The Gulf of Mexico energy security bill was
PASSED on a 86 - 12 vote
One GOP Senators voted NAY: Snowe

I'm happy to see that this bill wasn't killed before it could be taken up for debate.

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Interesting yesterday, Senator Durbin's objection to sending S.403 - Child Custody Protection Act to conference. I predict the obstruction will be successful, and that this bill will not be sent to conference during the course of the 109th Congress.

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Ratchet up the rhetoric. It isn't often that the word "diabolical" appears in the Congressional Record. Here is an example from July 25:

PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS

Mr. LEAHY. ... These signing statements are a diabolical device but this President will continue to use and abuse them, if the Republican Congress lets him. So far, this Congress has done exactly that. Whether it is torture, warrantless eavesdropping on American citizens, or the unlawful detention of military prisoners, this Republican-led Congress has been willing to turn a blind eye and rubberstamp the questionable actions of this administration, regardless of the consequences to our Constitution or civil liberties.

UPDATE @ 15:30

The Senate took a brief detour from discussing the Gulf of Mexico energy security bill, and took up S.3549 - Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2006 long enough to pass it on a voice vote. This bill, if enacted, changes the statutory requirements for the operation of CFIUS. You may recall CFIUS as an agency that was involved in the rebuffed attempt by Dubai Ports World to take over cargo operations at various US seaports, via purchase of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.