ms. mcconnell and 41 other republicans why is it they decided nothing would pass the senate until we resolve the issue over taxes and the next funding bill. it was a tactic on their part, obviously, to get something done that they felt was more important than the defense of this country, which was the particular version of tax cuts that they favor. that would be the single thing. they want to force that resolution which they hope will favor them and they use the defense authorization bill and all the other legislation, by the way, in order to achieve that goal. >> do you want to ask about the tax issue? >> yes. you give me an opening there. >> as things now stand, will you vote for the tax bill that was introduced on thursday night to? >> i do not know. i inclination is i do not let the bill. but that does not necessarily mean i will vote against it because it may be a better option than not passing it. but i not only have problems with the bill, the estate tax provision, which is a gift to the wealthiest people in this country, they do not need it. that upper-income tax cut, again, it is so

ms. landrieu: thank you. mr. president, i was going to ask the minority leader, mitch mcconnell, who just insulted many of us by saying that we don't care about small business or the economy and as the chair of the small business committee, i was going to ask him this: since president obama has been in such good faith in the last couple of days negotiating with him this package, my question was, does he regret saying on national television that his number-one primary goal is to unseat the president? i was going to ask him how he felt about that. that's a tough place to start a negotiation, which is why some of us are interested in how these negotiations might be going with that as a startingpoint. but he ran off the floor and didn't answer that question. i will going to i am going to continue to ask it. thank you. let me just add, i don't agree with every policy with the president. anymore a major fight over offshore oil and gas. but it is very interesting to some of us who have been in negotiations, how you start by saying my goal is to defeat you but here is the packages we want you to accept. some of us are having

ms. landrieu: thank you. mr. president, i was going to ask the minority leader, mitch mcconnell, who just insulted many of us by saying that we don't care about small business or the economy and as the chair of the small business committee, i was going to ask him this: since president obama has been in such good faith in the last couple of days negotiating with him this package, my question was, does he regret saying on national television that his number-one primary goal is to unseat the president? i was going to ask him how he felt about that. that's a tough place to start a negotiation, which is why some of us are interested in how these negotiations might be going with that as a startingpoint. but he ran off the floor and didn't answer that question. i will going to i am going to continue to ask it. thank you. let me just add, i don't agree with every policy with the president. anymore a major fight over offshore oil and gas. but it is very interesting to some of us who have been in negotiations, how you start by saying my goal is to defeat you but here is the packages we want you to accept. some of us are >> now,

ms. landrieu: thank you. mr. president, i was going to ask the minority leader, mitch mcconnell, who just insulted many of us by saying that we don't care about small business or the economy and as the chair of the small business committee, i was going to ask him this: since president obama has been in such good faith in the last couple of days negotiating with him this package, my question was, does he regret saying on national television that his number-one primary goal is to unseat the president? i was going to ask him how he felt about that. that's a tough place to start a negotiation, which is why some of us are interested in how these negotiations might be going with that as a startingpoint. but he ran off the floor and didn't answer that question. i will going to i am going to continue to ask it. thank you. let me just add, i don't agree with every policy with the president. anymore a major fight over offshore oil and gas. but it is very interesting to some of us who have been in negotiations, how you start by saying my goal is to defeat you but here is the packages we want you to accept. some of us are >> now,

ms. stabenow: madam president -- i would ask for another so 10 seconds to offer a unanimous consent request in order to set aside the second-degree amendment to the reid-mcconnell substitute to offer an amendment number 4773, that would repeal the 1099 reporting requirement for small business. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. kyl: madam president, i object. the presiding officer: the objection is heard. is there a sufficient second? so moved. under the previous order, the question is on the motion to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 4853, with amendment number 4753. the yeas and nays have been ordered. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators wishing to vote or to change your vote? the motion to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment with amendment number 4753 to h.r. 4853, the yeas are 81, the nays are 19. the motion is agreed to. a senator: madam president? move to lay on the table. the presiding officer: without objection. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. a senator: madam president -- mr. leahy: i thank my disti