i know lael personally. she is a renowned expert in international economics, dedicated public servant and is highly qualified for this important position. i've had the privilege of working with her when she was a member of the clinton administration, deputy snrants to the president for national economics. then she went on to be a vice president, founding director of the brookings institution's global economy and development program, and then an associate professor of applied economics at m.i.t. shown school. she has extraordinary he credentials and experience, but she's also, in addition to that, someone who has a wide-ranging interest in ndges economics, international affairs, and international security policy. she's someone that i have known for many years, someone i respect immensely for her judgment, her maturity, and her dedication to not only the country but also to ensuring that our policy reflects our highest eye dells as well as -- ideals as well advances our course throughout the world. she has bee

so the same questions were asked of him as were asked of lael brainard.she has responded to questions in multiple rounds for majority and minority staff. she has answered every question asked of her and provided hundreds of pages of submissions in a forthcoming, honest and direct manner. now, clearly at some point there were some differences of opinion for some members, but that has been settled to the best of my knowledge. paperwork has been submitted about taxes, about hiring of household employees. and during this time, neither the foreign relations committee nor any member of the full senate has raised any concern regarding this information. so as the united states is entering a particularly intense period of international engagements this spring and summer, i believe dr. brainard's confirmation is essential to ensuring effective united states policy coordination and implementation. i want to point out that she has broad bipartisan support as well as the support of a multitude of nongovernmental organizations and businesses. she is supported by the u

that person is not lael brainard. we cannot trust someone who gives evasive, inconsistent, and incomplete answers to routine questions. we cannot trust someone who spends nine months refusing to come clean about her record. we cannot trust someone who refuses to be straightforward about her tax problems because she is so desperate to be confirmed. mr. president, someone with this record is a terrible noise to serve in the treasury department. i want to urge my fellow senators and my colleagues to consider this record before they vote on this nomination. mr. president, i urge a no vote on this nomination and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: will the senator withhold his request? mr. bunning: yes, sir, mr. president, i will. the presiding officer: thank you. the senator from missouri is recognized. mrs. mccaskill: i rise today to talk not about obstructionism but rather about transparency and the rules. the rule i'm going to talk about today is a rule that, in fact, we embraced in the last congress.

under the previous order, the question is on the nomination of lael brainard. mr. kyl: mr. president, i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: he vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber w wish to vote or to change a vote? if not, on this vote, 78 yeas, 19 nays. and the nomination is confirmed. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont is recognized. mr. sanders: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent to speak for ten minutes, to be followed by senator burris for 5 minutes, at which point the senate would recess for party caucuses. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. sanders: the front page story of the "new york times" today points to the fact that of the enormous power of big money in terms of financial reform. and they say -- and i quote -- "with so much money at stake, it is not surprising that more than 1,500 lobbyists, executives, bankers and others have made their way to the sen

of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the nomination of lael br a r of the district of columbia to be under secretary of the treasury signed by 17 senators. cloture motion. we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of marisaj. demeo of the district of columbia to be associate judge of the district of columbia signed by 18 senators. cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of christopher h. schroeder of north carolina to be an assistant attorney general signed by 17 senators. cloture motion. we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of thomas i. vanaskie of pennsylvania to be a united states circuit judge for the third circuit, signed by 17 senators. cloture motion. we the undersigned senators in ac