mr. alexander: the senator from arizona -- mr. mccain: this is really unfortunate that even the last shred of attempts at bipartisanship is now gone. maybe it's because the 60th democrat vote was sworn in yesterday. maybe they figure they have the votes. but it's not -- and maybe they do. but anybody who alleges that this administration, and on the other side of the aisle is changing the climate in washington, that is simply false. mr. alexander: probably no one in the senate, if i may say, who more times than the senator from arizona has been in the midst of bipartisan negotiations, and it's not just for the purpose of feeling good. it's the way to actually get broad base of support for an energy bill or immigration bill or supreme court nominee. and usually it involves, if i'm not mistaken, sitting down with several members on each side, coming to a consensus, really sharing ideas and then fighting off the left and fighting off the right and producing 60 or 70 votes. that's the way we really do bipartisan bills around here, if i

mr. alexander: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mr. exander: we have time equally divided between now and 11:25, is that correct? the presiding officer: the senator is correct. mr. alexander: i would like it reserve the last minute of my time, if i may, for use just before the vote. but i will go ahead now. mr. president, i thank the managers of the bill for creating the opportunity for this vote. the american people want the government, the federal government, out of the auto business. i believe democrats and republicans in the united states senate would like to have the government out of the auto business. president obama has said he woo have the government out of the auto business. yet, we are in the auto business in a big way for the forseeable future unless we take some action. the taxpayers are paying more than $70 billion for 60% of the stock in general motors and about 8% of the stock in chrysler. so what my amendment would do, which is cosponsored by the distinguished senator from utah, senator bennett, and senator mcconnell an

mr. alexander: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mr. alexander: mr.sident, i'd like to ask consent to vitiate the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. alexander: and, we -- i assume the order is to begin the republican 30 minutes of morning business. and i'd like to take the first 20 minutes and be informed when i have one minute left and then senator gregg will take the last 10, and then the democratic time remaining will be reserved for the democratic side when they want to use it. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. alexander: thank you, mr. president. the president has said several times about his -- expressed several times his concern about our nation's debt. we republicans have a great concern about the amount of debt being stacked up in this country. president obama's proposals over the next 10 years will add as much to the national debt as our country -- three times as much to the national debt, almost, as our country spent during world war ii. according to "the washington post." so the p

mr. alexander: on the senator's time, i'd be happy. mr. durbin: i don't know that we're in control of time. are we, mr. president? the presiding officer: we are not in controlled time. mr. durbin: we're not? the presiding officer: no. could it be recognized under unanimous consent agreement, when the time of the senator from tennessee is expired? mr. alexander: i'll yield -- mr. kaufman: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. kaufman: mr. president, i request to speak as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. kaufman: mr. president, i've often spoken about the need to invest in technology and innovation. we cannot afford to fall behind in this area after leading the world in science, research, and discovery for half a century. since i began coming to the floor to talk about great federal employees, i've honored individuals who have made significant contributions in the area of engineering, medicine, defense, housing assistance, land conservation, and international aid

mr. alexander: i thank the chair. madam president, some friendly person is exercising his or her constitutional first amendment rights in memphis these days running television ads urging me to vote for the health care proposal that's currently pending before congress. that person may be wasting their money because we're getting a fair number of calls in my memphis office congratulating me for suggesting that we ought to slow it down and come up with a better plan. madam president, we should start over in terms of what we're doing to try to find the right way to provide health care for the american people at a cost they can afford and at the same time provide a government that they can afford. we're going in the wrong direction. i know a lot of good effort has been put in to the plan that came out of the senate health committee and to the plans that have come out of two of the house committees and currently being discussed in the third. but the most terrible thing i can say about it is that very well-intentioned people

mr. alexander: mr. president, i congratulate the republican leader on his remarks and i remember his first address following president obama's election was at the national press club. senator mcconnell's address. and it was to the president saying, mr. president, we look forward to working with you, and the pressing issue is the entitlements facing this country, the automatic spending this athat means more and more and more -- that means more rand more and more debt. i would ask the republican leader whether there's been any response from the administration to him about the opportunity to work together across party lines to deal with social security, which, as i remember, in january was your proposal? mr. mcconnell: well, i would say to my good friend from tennessee, unfortunately, no follow-up whatsoever. there seemed to be on the part of the president and the president's chief of staff at the beginning of the administration a willingness to support the conrad-gregg proposal which would have given us a

mr. alexander: thank you, mr. president. our job here in the united states senate is to -- is to debate. we're -- we're said to be the greatest deliberative body in the world and the great conflicts in our country come here so that we can resolve them. and after six months of president obama's administration, americans admire him, like him, like his family, appreciate his seriousness of purpose. but americans are beginning to see some significant differences of opinion between the kind of country that the democrats are imaging for our nation and the kind of country that republicans and many independents are imaging. there is concern in tennessee, where i live, as well as, i believe, around the country, about the lack of check and balances now on too many -- too much debt and too many washington takeovers. in terms of debt, we see that the president's proposals for debt for the next 10 years are nearly three times as much as all of the money that the united states spent in world war ii. and as far as washington takeovers, it

mr. alexander: mr.resident, i'm glad i was here to hear the thoughtful comments of the senator from arizona, his leadership on the health committee and try to make sure we help americans have access to health care they can afford and that we do that in a way that leaves them with a government they can afford and with choices so that they don't have government in between themselves and their doctors has been very important. and i thank him for his leadership. the senator talked about spending and debt. and if during my week in tennessee last week i heard anything, it was about too much debt. people are genuinely worried about the amount of new debt and spending in washington. but if i heard anything else last week, it was about too many washington take overs. senator mccain mentioned some of them. he said banking. he talked about student loans. he mentioned perhaps the health care industry. and he mentioned the automobile industry, which is what i'd like to talk about for a few minutes this morning. yest

mr. alexander: thank you, mr. president. i listened carefully to the senator from michigan, republicans, and i believe most democrat, want health care reform this yeemple the president said he wants -- see in reform this year. the president said he wants health care reform this year. we want to make sure it's done right. let's put it this way. if we were in an operating room and a parity came in seriously ill -- patient came in seriously ill and we knew we only had one chance to save that patient's life and to make that patient healthy, our goal would not be to see if we could do it in the next week, it would be to see if we could get it right. and so far, the proposals that we have seen coming out of the committees have not gotten it right.one might say, well -- one might say, well, that's a republican view of democratic proposals, and perhaps it is. but the proposals we've seen coming out of the senate health committee and out of the house of representatives flunk the most important test which is cost. the most important t

mr. alexander said if lder does even this he also needs to lk undee subject of rendition under presidenclinton when mr. holder was the deputy attorney general, thereby saying if you're going to instate, investate yourself. i assume yr answer to that is, you know, bring it on. >> yeah, well i thk i'd more than happy have them investigate all such occasions and i don't believe -- or policies -- and i dot believe the republics are serious abouthis. but republicans haveo ke an impoant decision. they cannot go in and crte a legacy for their party as the pay that fought to protect the right to torture. i mean, whatever polical aspirations they may have, ty must at ast retain something a moral definition of themselves. i , they're the party of abraham ncoln and see where they have gone. i just don't believe most republicans really want at. but what also think attorney geral holder has to do is accept, appoint a special prosecutor and telm to go find cmewhere the evidence leads. and that's t moral clarity th we're lacking in terms of these recent sries. >> yeah, archibald c could come in most useful a

mr. alexander said iholder does even this he also needs tok under the subject rendition under president clton wh mr. holder was the deputy torney general, there saying if you'reoing to investigate, investigate yourself. i assume your swer to that is, you know, bring it o >> yeah, well i think d be morehan happy to have them investigate all such occasions ani don't believe -- or policies -- ani don't believe the repuicans are serious t this. but republicans have to make a important decision. they cannot go in ancreate a gacy for their party as the party th fought to protect the right to torture. i mean, whatever political aspiratis they may have, they must at least retain something of a moral definition of themes. i mean, they're the party of abraham lincoln and e where they have ne. i just don'telieve most republicans really want . but what also i ink attorney generaholder has to do is accept, appoint special prosecutor and tell him to go find crimes whe the evidence les. and that's the moral crity at we're lacking in terms of thesrecent stories. >> yeah, archibald cox cld come in most useful

mr. alexander: mr. president, i ask to speak as if in morning business. and will you please let me know when i finish nine minutes. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. alexander: thank you, mr. president. i was listening with respect to the senator from california. let me state the position of the republican senators on health care reform. our leader, mitch mcconnell, the senator from kentucky, stated yesterday. he said to the news media outside in the hall in answer to a question, "this isn't about winning or losing. this is about getting it right." health care is very personal to every one of us, to every one of our families, and to all of the american people. and our goal on the republican side, and i'm sure for many democrats as well, is to start with cost and make sure that we can say to the american people that we want to make sure that you can afford your health care policy and that when we finish fixing health care, that you can afford your government. and so far that's not been the case. we have offered plans which we believ

mr. alexander: mr.dent, i ask to speak as -- concepts to speak as if in morning business for up to ten minutes. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. alexander: thank you, mr. president. president obama was in warren, michigan, today, and made an announcement, announce add new $12 billion national community college initiative. that sounds very good. at first. at a former governor and secretary of education for the united states i'm a big fan of community colleges. i think they're our secret weapon for helping men and women in this cup go from one job to the next and to improve our workforce. but i would like to respectfully suggest that what the president in his education secretary and economic advisors -- and the education secretary may be the best appointmentee of all -- they ought to be asked to stay after school out there at the community college and write on the blackboard 100 times in a year in which we have runhe for example deficit up by another $1.8 trillion, i will never ag

mr. alexander: thank you, madam president. madam president, i just -- i have a statement to make about the president's nomination of judge sonia sotomayor to be associate justice of the united states supreme court. even though judge sotomayor's political and judicial philosophy may be different than mine, especially regarding second-amendment rights, i will vote to confirm her because she is well-qualified by experience, temperament, character, and intellect, to serve as an associate justice of the united states supreme court. in 2005, i said on this floor that it was wrong for then-senator obama and half the democratic senators to vote against john roberts, a superbly qualified nominee, solely because they disagreed with what senator obama described as roberts' -- quote -- "overarching political philosophy" and his -- quote -- "work in the white house and the solicitor general's office that consistently sided with the strong in opposition to the weak." unquote. today it would be equally wrong for me to vote against judge soto

mr. alexander: thank you, mawvment in 1998norm coleman ran for governor of minnesota against the son of one of the most revered mesms this country, hubert humphrey and a noted wrestler, jesse ventura who was elected governor. in 2002 norm coleman ran in a campaign against paul wellstone, a beloved member of this party who was tragically killed in an airplane crash just a week or so before the election, bringing into the race a former vice president of the united states, former united states senator and ambassador, walter mondale, and the whole country watched, was riveted by that race during the last week. norm coleman won that race. this past year norm coleman was a participant in a race that also riveted the nation. he was opposed by a well-known television personality, al franken, now a member of this body, and the race went on for two years with much publicity and then it went on for another eight months after election day. if norm coleman could have found some way to make the 2000 presidential election, bush versus gore versus coleman, norm would have been a participant in every single

mr. alexander: alexander, virgid out for moussaoui to be detained. bringing gitmo detainees to the united states could place america and citizens at risk by inevitably creating a new set of targets for the jihadist terrorists. gitmo on the other hand is state-of-the-art prison. i can't find anyone who has gone over there, including unfriendly media, media bent on closing gitmo, they go over there and they see it almost all of them change their mind. it is state-of-the-art and it provides humane treatment for all detainees, fully compliant with the geneva convention, provides treatment and oversight that exceed any maximum security prison in the world and as attested to by human rights organizations, the red cross, the attorney general holder, and independent commission led by admiral walsh, this is state-of-the-art. this is not a place where torture takes place. it is the only facility of its kind in the world that was specifically designed to build and to house and try these types of dangerous detainees. if president obama ever decided to visit gitm

. >> reporter: just nine months ago alexander muse and mr. barns launched shop savvy. >> if you want to be more informed about the decisions you are making when you are shopping it could be great. >> reporter: you use the camera on your phone to scan the bar code of what you are thinking about buying. >> we actually go and search for the prices when somebody scans the bar code, at that time. >> reporter: shop savvy finds the best prices on that item and sends the information back to your phone. so you know if you are getting a good deal. after scanning this book, we know it's available online for $4, and in local stores for $15. >> it finds the best prices on the internet and the stores. >> it can tell you which store has the item, even? >> we can tell you walmart sells it for cheaper, and if they have it in stock. the money saving app is free, which is one reason it's catching on fast. >> we have millions of users, and 20oducts in the system. >> reporter: when you hear that sound, it's savings calling. >> shop savvy is free to download. >>>

david alexander williams. >> thank you, mr. president. you have been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, the effort will collapse? >> a couple ofn points coupleumber on -- a couple of points. number one, i get letters every day from families who are being clobbered by health care costs. they ask me if i can help. a middle-aged couple will say, my daughter just found out she has leukemia and if i do not do something soon, we will either go bankrupt or we will not be able to provide our daughter with the care that she needs. in a country like ours, that is not right. that is part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that if you do not set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia. doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there's always going to be some interests out there that decide, you know what? the status quo was working for me a little bit better. the fact that we have made some much progress where we have got

david alexander williams. >> thank you, mr. president. you have been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, the effort will collapse? >> a couple ofn points coupleumber on -- a couple of points. number one, i get letters every day from families who are being clobbered by health care costs. they ask me if i can help. a middle-aged couple will say, my daughter just found out she has leukemia and if i do not do something soon, we will either go bankrupt or we will not be able to provide our daughter with the care that she needs. in a country like ours, that is not right. that is part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that if you do not set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia. doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there's always going to be some interests out there that decide, you know what? the status quo was working for me a little bit better. the fact that we have made some much progress where we have got

very appropriate now as we look at the crisis facing the dairy industry and that founder was alexander hamilton, mr. speaker. when alexander hamilton said these words, he said that the greatness of our nation and the federal government of our nation shines at its brightest at our moment of crisis. well, this is a crisis, mr. speaker. it is a very special, unique crisis that is facing a very special and beloved industry, ice cream, milk, our cheeses, our butters. our dairy farmers all across this country, from the atlantic coast to the pacific ocean, from texas to vermont and connecticut, there is no industry that represents the grandor and the greatness of america as our dairy industry. and it is time for this federal government to do precisely what alexander hamilton spoke when he said at the time of crisis is when our nation shines at its most brilliant. let this nation, let this federal government shine on the dairy industry now. now, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution just considered. the spea

david alexander of reuters. >> thank you, mr. president. you've been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that, if you don't, there's a delay until the fall, the whole effort will collapse? >> couple of points. number one, i'm rushed because i get letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. and they ask me, can you help? so, i've got a middle aged couple that will write me, say our daughter just found out she's got leukemia, and if i don't do something soon, we just -- either are going to go bankrupt or we're not going to be able to provide our daughter with the care she needs. and in a country like ours, that's not right. so, that's part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that, if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia, because doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there's alys going to be some interest out there that decides, you know what, the status quo is working for me a lit

david alexander of reuters. >> thank you mr. president. you have been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, there is a delay until the fall, the whole effort will collapse? >> a couple of points. number one, i am rushed because i get letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. and they ask me, can you help. i have got a middle-aged couple that will write me and they say our daughter just found out she is that leukemia, and if i don't do something soon, we just r.e. they are going to go bankrupt or we are not going to be able to provide their daughter with the care that she needs. and, in a country like ours, that is not right. so that is part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that, if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia, because doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there is always going to be some interest out there that decides, you know what? the status q

so david alexander of reuters. >> thank you, mr. president. you've been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, there's a delay until the fall, the whole effort will collapse? >> a couple of points. number one, i'm rushed because i get letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. and they ask me, can you help? so i've got a middle aged couple that will write me and they say, our daughter just found out she's got leukemia, and if i don't do something soon, we just either are going to go bankrupt or we're not going to be able to provide our daughter with the care that she needs. and in a country like ours, that's not right. so that's part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia, because doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there's always going to be some interest out there that decides, you know what? the status quo is working f

so david alexander of reuters. >> thank you, mr. president. you've been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, there's a delay until the fall, the whole effort will collapse? >> a couple of points. number one, i'm rushed because i get letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. and they ask me, can you help? so i've got a middle aged couple that will write me and they say, our daughter just found out she's got leukemia, and if i don't do something soon, we just either are going to go bankrupt or we're not going to be able to provide our daughter with the care that she needs. and in a country like ours, that's not right. so that's part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia, because doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there's always going to be some interest out there that decides, you know what? the status quo is working f

mr. chairman, senator enzi, senator gregg, senator alexander and all the staffs who work together on this, and i would ask unanimous consent that the committee adopt the harkin/gregg/ensi amendment as modified. >> senator gregg. >> i want to thank senator harkin for he and his staff's cooperate and senator hagan played a major role in this. i honestly think that of the things that evolved out of this process this may be the most positive thing that has evolved because i believe if we can create an incentive for employers to promote healthy lifestyles and preventive medicine by giving cash to people which is the way our economy works, people react to money, it's a plus, and we will get peoples -- we will change the way people dial the with their daily lives hopefully and as a result get more preventive medicine in place and get people choosing doctor groups which present better outcomes to them and also live healthier lifestyles so i think this is a huge step forward, and the fact that we've reached consensus on this, no matter what happens on this health care debate, do i hope that this i

david alexander of reuters. >> thank you mr. president. you have been pushing congress to pass health care reform by august. why the rush? are you worried that if you don't, there is a delay until the fall, the whole effort will collapse? >> a couple of points. number one, i am rushed because i get letters every day from families that are being clobbered by health care costs. and they ask me, can you help. i have got a middle-aged couple that will write me and they say our daughter just found out she is that leukemia, and if i don't do something soon, we just r.e. they are going to go bankrupt or we are not going to be able to provide their daughter with the care that she needs. and, in a country like ours, that is not right. so that is part of my rush. the second thing is the fact that, if you don't set deadlines in this town, things don't happen. the default position is inertia, because doing something always creates some people who are unhappy. there is always going to be some interest out there that decides, you know what? the status q

. >> the republican senar m alexander said if holder does ev this he also nds to look under the subject of renti unde president clintonhen mrlder was the deputy torney general,thereby saying if you're going to investigate, i assume your answer to that is, you know, bring it on. yeah, well i think i'd be more thanhappy to have them investigate all su ccasions d i don't believe -- policies -- and i don't lieve the repuicans are serious about this. but republicans have to mke an important decision they cannot go innd eate a legacy for their partys the party that foht to proct the right to torte. i mean, whatever political pirations they may have, they must ateast retain something of a moral definion of themselves. i mean, they're the party of abraham lincoln and ewhere they have gone. i just don't believe st republans really want that. but what also think attory generalolder hasto do is accept, appoint a special prosecut and tell him go find imes where the even lead and that's e moral clarity that we'reacking in terms of the recent stories. >>yeah, archibald cox could come in most uful at this int. jonathanurley of george shin

mr. president, the framers of the constitution anticipated the importance of having an independent and duty-bound judiciary. alexander hamilton in the federalist papers noted that to avoid an arbitrary discretion in the court, it is indes spencible they should be bound down by strict rules and precedence which should point out their duty in every particular case that comes before them. from her record it is unmistakable that judge sotomayor has demonstrated a commitment to precedent and the rule of law as mr. hamilton described it. during her confirmation hearing she said "as a judge i do not make the law. judges must apply the law." some raised the question whether judge sotomayor is a liberal activist because of her involvement on the board of the puerto rican legal defense and education fund. but judge sotomayor's role and involvement has not been directing legal opinions from this organization but has been directed, instead, at encouraging puerto rican youth to pursue careers in the legal profession. if you look at her record she's participated in 434 published panel decisions with at least one judge appointed by

alexander, are moving to ohio. this move will begin a new chapter in their lives and we wish them only the best and look forward to their future success. mr. speaker, we all will miss them greatly. thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentlelady from florida rise? ms. ros-lehtinen: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that today following legislative business and any special orders heretofore entered into, the following members may be permitted to address the house, revise and extend their remarks and include therein extraneous material. mr. diaz-balart, today for five minutes, mr. forbes, july 30, for five minutes, mr. olson today and july 30, five minutes. each. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. for what purpose does the gentlelady from nevada rise? titistitis mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that today -- ms. titus: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous con -- consent that today following legislative business the following members may be permitted to address the house for five minutes. to revise and extend their remarks and include therein