mr. schumer: i yield the floor. mr. kirk: thank you.ant to speak as if in morning business to talk about the big issue pending before the senate, which is the potential legislation by republicans or democrats to cut contributions to social security. i'm very worried because in the legislation that we considered last week, we had proposals to cut contribution toss social security by $250 billion, and this was legislation proposed by democratic leaders and then a separate piece of legislation by republican leaders, and i think that legislation was a mistake on both sides. now, we have precious few bipartisan institutions or contacts in this senate. senator manchin and i, one democrat, one republican senator, both freshmen, we meet every thursday for lunch, and at our thursday lunch last week, senator manchin initially said well, i'm having difficulty, i don't think i'm going to be able to vote for the democratic bill to cut social security contributions, and i said well, i join you in that because i'm not going to be able to vote for the

mr. schumer: mr. pre mr. schumer: mr. president, i would ask unanimous consent that i be given one and a half more minutes to finish this point. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: thank you, mr. president whvment we confirmed president bush's nominee to the 11th seat in 2005, thomas griffith, his confirmation resulted in their being 121 pending cases per judge. we did not hear a peep out of the other side that that was too low, and yet today there are 161 cases per judge. halligan's nomination would go down to 143, far more than the 121 when all my colleagues on the other side of the aisle voted for mr. griffith, a republican nominee of president bush. so there's no reason to argue about caseload. the fact is, if we can't confirm halligan, this won't go down as a vote about caseload. this will be recorded as a new bar for nominees. in conclusion, mr. president, when caitlin halligan drove with her father from her home in kansas city to harvard, or when she was a standout student at georgetown law, or w

first time that bayer has been has been pulled back on his leash you know by by mr cantor and we know from what senator schumer said on saturday that they did have a deal that better you know came to the table the mcconnell had requested kind of a pre-built conference with the house and senate republican leadership they had an agreement so the house because it really yes he's either he's lying and anybody doesn't realize he's line assumes he's incompetent we know exactly that and look at the big fear in the house as i understand it is you look at that you look at those numbers in the senate bill eighty nine. it's ten i can't remember a vote that was eighty nine to ten such a bipartisan success story in this congress that's like you know he is apple pie and mother a good thing you know yeah and i think they're real fear in this is what's really strange is that they don't want to put this bill to a full to a vote in the house because they knew that they lose that they would add that that bill to to do the two month you know extension of the payroll tax increase. you know would actually pass the house and we woul

mr. hoyer. senator reid, senator durbin, senator schumer, we need to extend these poll he's fo policies for a year the road because it's near christmas is not the right thing for the american people. jenna: it calls for a two month extension instead. >> this is not about politics. it's not even about policy. it's about trying to make sure that bad things don't happen to good people ten days from now. jenna: just a reminder, this is not major tax reform, so we joke a little bit $40 here, $40 there, what you can keep in your pay check. this was a tax holiday that was temporary. we will bring you comments coming from the president live when they do happen. jon: well, the latest gallop poll has congressional approval at an all time low of just 13%. with numbers like these many of us would expect that incumbents would be shown the door come november. many of them were last time around, but some political experts say, do not hold your breath. they point to what is called the anti-incumbent election myth, one of those experts larry back stow, director of the center of politics at the university of virgin

mr. hoyer, senator reid, senator schumer -- we needed to extend these policies for a year. we agree with them. to just kick the can down the road because, oh, my goodness, we're getting close to christmas, is not the right thing for the american people. >> if there was some sort of compromise, do you think you could move this bill with a minority of your conference -- let me restate that, not a minority of your conference -- would you have more democratic votes? the senate bill would pass without some republicans and a lot of democrats. would you be willing -- with some republicans and a lot of democrats. would you be willing -- >> i don't believe that to be the case. nothing will happen until we have somebody to sit down with and negotiate. this is why i told president obama yesterday to call senator reid to appoint conferees. one more. >> many of you mentioned to the quarterly reporting. would you be willing to have a three-month extension? >> we need people to sit down and work with. we are not willing to sit down and negotiate with ourselves. i ask sen. reid to appoint

mrs. zimmerman, 87 years old in a wheelchair with a bag, they can't be sued for what they did to her. >> let's read along together at home. senator schumere says while the safety and security of our flights must be a top priority, we need to make sure that flying does not become a fear inducing, degrading and potentially humiliating experience. you agree with the senator? >> i agree with the senator's sentiment but i disagree that another level of bureaucracy will address the issue. >> we'll be watching your show. thanks so much. >> thank you for having me. there's that finger! >> it's sacred ground and it was a sacred day but these world war ii veterans were told you're not welcome here by the producers of "hawaii 5-0"? what? >> signed, sealed and delivered and right out of the post office. why were christmas carolers tossed on the street? that story is next. [ male announcer ] cranberry juice? wake up! ♪ that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm [ male announcer ] for half the calories -- plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. sure. cake or pie? pie. apple or cherry? cherry. oil or cream? oil or cream? cream. reddi-wip us real dairy c

mr. schumer: thank you, mr. president. i ask unanimous consent that the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: thank you, mr. president. first let me wish you and your family and of those who work here a merry christmas and a happy holiday and a great year. hope god gives you and your families a very good, outstanding, happy, healthy new year. now i'd like to speak on william borman. william boarman's appointment as public printer has been held up for a year and a half despite being reported out of the rules committee twice with unanimous bipartisan support. earlier this year because of the delays, he was appointed to the job on an interprim -- interim basis by the president during a recess. during this year he has done an outstanding job as acting public printer. it is extremely unfortunate that this agency which is so important to congress 0, to the private sector printing are industry, and to the country will now be without an effective leader when mr. boarman's recess appointme

mr. udall: i would thank the chairman for working with me on this. i think he gave us a modification that's a good one. this amendment i'm offering with senator schumer and senator sanders closes the buy american loopholes and applies buy american requirements to solar projects that are funded by the department of defense to meet energy goals in this bill. if american taxpayer funds are used to improve our military bases' energy security, then american solar firms should have the ability to compete. we know that other nations like china are spending vast resources to become leaders in the solar power market. think about it this way: china does not spend its tax dollars on u.s. solar panels pat chinese military bases. the presiding officer: the senator will suspend. the national is not in order. a senator: regular order. the presiding officer: the senator from new mexico. mr. udall: why should congress provide -- the presiding officer: the senator has used his one minute. time has expired. mr. udall: and i thank senator mccain. i thank senator levin. i ask that my full statement be included in the record and i appreciate their help on this amendment.