mrs. boxer: i would ask that the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from california. mrs. boxer: mr. president, i have listened to the senator from ohio, and i really want to be heard because he's talking about the fiscal cliff and how upset he is at the thought that the wealthiest people in america might go back to the tack rates we had under bill clinton when we had the greatest prosperity, we had 23 million new jobs, and we balanced the budget to the point where we even had a surplus. and my friend comes down here and he's complaining that the proposal on the table would give 98% of the people a tax cut, and he's upset that 2% of the people might have to go back to the rates under bill clinton. well, i just want to say something. we just had an election. we had a big election. we had a tough election. we had an expensive election. and one of the major parts of that election revolved around what do we do about the deficits, what do we do about

mrs. boxer: mr. president? mr. president? mr. levin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that it be in order for the following first-degree amendments to be offered: sessions 3009, cardin 3025, menendez, 3232, nelson of florida, 3073, that at 9:30 a.m. on friday, tomorrow, november 30, following the prayer, that the senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed, that there be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote, that there be no amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. mccain: regerveg the right to object -- reserving the right to object and i will not object. the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: as i understand, there's still no time agreements on them. mr. levin: that is correct. we will work out time agreements -- mrs. boxer boxer: reserving thet to object. mr. mccain: i still have the floorment in levin -- floor. mr. levin: in response, there is

mrs. boxer: mr. president, i'm going to be very proud to support amendment 2985. i think it has to do with our military readiness. i think it has to do with our national security. and i think the fact that we have this opportunity is commendable, and i want to thank senator udall for it. striking section 313 is important because that section harms d.o.d.'s ability to diversify its fuel supplies by developing and using effective alternative fuels. now, you know, lots of colleagues can come down here and proclaim thi this isn't important or it is important. you know what? i want to listen to the d.o.d. themselves and what they say. there was an armed forces press service news report in july 2012. and this is what they said: and i quote -- "smart investing and less reliance on petroleum-based fuels will help ensure an agile, lethal and adaptable combat force and ultimately national security. " so, mr. president -- mr. president, i was distraught when i heard that the armed services committee by one vote put in this section that would stop the ability of the d.o.d. to

mr. president, the world's dying to know, is it boxers or briefs?ter ] >> usually briefs. >> announcer: the "bill press show." >> bill: he would have to answer that, right? that was president clinton in 1992. the very first year of rock the vote. still going strong. heather smith is president here in studio with us. we've got a big surprise for you coming up here. joining us shortly here on the "full court press." but first just a -- before we get back to calls about who do you think is going to win tonight. a quick question. how much money do you need to earn each month? at love us looking for extra money at the end of the month. here's something you ought to consider. income may be your answer. incomeathome.com. america's leading work from home business. doing business in over 80 countries today and giving you an opportunity you can do. no matter your age education or experience. you can literally earn money on your laptop from your own kitchen table 24/7. at least you ought to check it out if you're sick of living paycheck to paycheck and worried

mrs. boxer: thank you so much, mr. president. just in the lull here and if there is any legislative business to take place, i will immediately give up the floor, but in this lull i just want to make a point. i am so proud to be in this senate, so proud to be here for a long time now, came here in 1993, there were two women, we went to six women, now we're going to 20 women and i've seen changes and i've seen good things and i've seen rough things. but i have to say one of the things that keeps coming up continually here is folks trying to use these debates on bills to add irrelevant amendments, amendments that have nothing to do with the topic at hand. i think we all agree that defending our nation is our number-one priority, and therefore having a defense authorization bill is very, very important. and i'm sure that we don't agree with every single sentence of this bill, but in general we all want to make sure that our military is prepared, that they're paid well, that they get good benefits, that we have a strong military that

boxer, leahy and tester. i would ask my colleagues to approve the amendment. mr. mccain: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: this amendment which was unanimously approved by the committee as a provision and it would review the plan to reduce civilian and contractual personnel by 5%. right now the president's budget request, not counting sequester, would reduce military personnel by 123,900 men and women serving in the military, or 5.5% over five years. since 2001, the civilian personnel and department of defense has increased by 100,000, 16% increase, and a 37% increase in civilian pay costs. the department of defense continues to be top-heavy with headquarters. the office of the secretary will grow by 25% from 2001 to 2017. we all know the department of defense is being downsized so there has to be obviously a commensurate reduction in civilians, which is actually less than what is contemplated in the military. this was unanimously reported, and i have had conversations with the secretary of defense who agrees that we need to reduce the civilian