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LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY Spirits to Your Truth and Light

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LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY Spirits to Your Truth and Light E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007 No. 7 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY called to order by the Honorable RUS- a Senator from the State of Wisconsin, to LEADER perform the duties of the Chair. SELL D. FEINGOLD, a Senator from the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- State of Wisconsin. ROBERT C. BYRD, President pro tempore. publican leader is recognized. PRAYER Mr. FEINGOLD thereupon assumed f The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- the chair as Acting President pro tem- ETHICS AND LOBBYING REFORM pore. fered the following prayer: Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, let Let us pray. f me say, I echo the comments of the God of constant newness, in You all majority leader. We look forward to renewal abides and all hope originates. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME wrapping up this bill next week and Help us to honor You with both our passing it with a large bipartisan ma- words and deeds. Give us the courage The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. jority. to help the less fortunate and to ad- OBAMA). Under the previous order, the I yield the floor. dress the needs of those on life’s mar- leadership time is reserved. f gins. Make us unafraid to confront prejudice and pride, as You attune our f LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY spirits to Your truth and light. AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007 Bless our Senators. Energize them RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under until their presence radiates a light LEADER the previous order, the Senate will re- that no darkness can overcome. Give The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- sume consideration of S. 1, which the them wisdom and courage, vision and jority leader is recognized. clerk will report. discipline for the right living of these The legislative clerk read as follows: days. Empower them to be kind to one f A bill (S. 1) to provide greater trans- another, forgiving and affirming each parency in the legislative process. SCHEDULE other. Pending: We pray this in Your righteous Mr. REID. Mr. President, as soon as Reid amendment No. 3, in the nature of a Name. Amen. we resume S. 1 in a few minutes, there substitute. f will be a limited period of debate on Reid amendment No. 4 (to amendment No. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE two amendments—the Kerry amend- 3), to strengthen the gift and travel bans. ment No. 1 relating to congressional DeMint amendment No. 11 (to amendment The Honorable RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD pensions and the Vitter amendment No. 3), to strengthen the earmark reform. led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: No. 10 regarding civil penalties. These (By 46 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 5), Senate I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the earlier failed to table the amendment.) two amendments will be debated con- DeMint amendment No. 12 (to amendment United States of America, and to the Repub- currently until 9:50 a.m. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, No. 3), to clarify that earmarks added to a indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The first rollcall vote will start at conference report that are not considered by 9:50. We will have two rollcall votes the Senate or the House of Representatives f this morning. If Members are inter- are out of scope. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING ested in offering amendments today, I DeMint amendment No. 14 (to amendment PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE would suggest they talk to the bill No. 3), to protect individuals from having their money involuntarily collected and used The PRESIDING OFFICER. The managers during these votes, or Sen- for lobbying by a labor organization. clerk will please read a communication ator MCCONNELL. Vitter/Inhofe modified amendment No. 9 to the Senate from the President pro I remind everyone Monday is a holi- (to amendment No. 3), to place certain re- tempore (Mr. BYRD). day. We will have our first vote Tues- strictions on the ability of the spouses of The legislative clerk read the fol- day at 5:30. It appears at this time Members of Congress to lobby Congress. lowing letter: there will be a series of votes at 5:30. Vitter amendment No. 10 (to amendment So I hope we can move on down the No. 3), to increase the penalty for failure to U.S. SENATE, road on this matter this morning. I am comply with lobbying disclosure require- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, ments. Washington, DC, January 12, 2007. going to have some consultations with Leahy/Pryor amendment No. 2 (to amend- To the Senate: the Republican leader in a few minutes ment No. 3), to give investigators and pros- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, to see if we can figure out a way to end ecutors the tools they need to combat public of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby this matter as quickly as possible. corruption. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S485 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:58 Jan 13, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A12JA6.000 S12JAPT1 ccoleman on PRODPC75 with SENATE S486 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 12, 2007 Gregg amendment No. 17 (to amendment Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask 5 is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of No. 3), to establish a legislative line item unanimous consent that the order for subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the veto. the quorum call be rescinded. end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘or’’, Ensign amendment No. 24 (to amendment The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and by adding at the end the following: No. 3), to provide for better transparency and ‘‘(C) for an offense described under sub- enhanced Congressional oversight of spend- objection, it is so ordered. section (d) of section 8312; and’’. ing by clarifying the treatment of matter AMENDMENT NO. 1, AS MODIFIED, TO (d) NONACCRUAL OF INTEREST ON RE- not committed to the conferees by either AMENDMENT NO. 3 FUNDS.—Section 8316(b) of such title 5 is House. Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I call up amended by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of para- Ensign modified amendment No. 25 (to amendment No. 1, please. graph (1), by striking the period at the end of amendment No. 3), to ensure full funding for The PRESIDING OFFICER. The paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘; or’’, and by the Department of Defense within the reg- clerk will report. adding at the end the following: ular appropriations process, to limit the reli- The legislative clerk read as follows: ‘‘(3) if the individual was convicted of an ance of the Department of Defense on supple- offense described in section 8312(d), for the The Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. mental appropriations bills, and to improve period after the conviction.’’. KERRY], for himself, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. NEL- the integrity of the Congressional budget SEC. ll3. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. SON of Nebraska, and Mr. PRYOR, proposes an process. amendment numbered 1, as modified, to The Constitutional authority for this title Cornyn amendment No. 26 (to amendment amendment No. 3. is the power of Congress to make all laws No. 3), to require full separate disclosure of which shall be necessary and proper as enu- any earmarks in any bill, joint resolution, Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask merated in Article I, Section 8 of the United report, conference report or statement of unanimous consent that reading of the States Constitution, and the power to ascer- managers. amendment be dispensed with. tain compensation for Congressional service Cornyn amendment No. 27 (to amendment The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without under Article I, Section 6 of the United No. 3), to require 3 calendar days’ notice in objection, it is so ordered. States Constitution. the Senate before proceeding to any matter. The amendment, as modified, is as SEC. ll4. EFFECTIVE DATE. Bennett (for McCain) amendment No. 19 (to follows: This title, including the amendments made amendment No. 4), to include a reporting re- (Purpose: To amend title 5, United States by this title, shall take effect on January 1, quirement. 2009 and shall apply with respect to convic- Bennett (for McCain) amendment No. 28 (to Code, to deny Federal retirement benefits to individuals convicted of certain of- tions for offenses committed on or after the amendment No. 3), to provide congressional date of enactment of this Act. transparency. fenses, and for other purposes) Bennett (for McCain) amendment No. 29, to At the end, add the following: Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, par- provide congressional transparency. TITLE—CONGRESSIONAL PENSION liamentary inquiry: How much time is Lieberman amendment No. 30 (to amend- ACCOUNTABILITY divided up now? ment No. 3), to establish a Senate Office of SEC. ll1. SHORT TITLE. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is Public Integrity. This title may be cited as the ‘‘Congres- 7 minutes on the Senator’s side. Bennett/McConnell amendment No. 20 (to sional Pension Accountability Act’’. Mr. KERRY. I thank the Chair. amendment No. 3), to strike a provision re- Mr. President, my amendment is co- lating to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots SEC. ll2. DENIAL OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS. sponsored by Senator SALAZAR, Sen- lobbying. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8312(a) of title 5, Thune amendment No. 37 (to amendment United States Code, is amended— ator BEN NELSON, and Senator PRYOR, No. 3), to require any recipient of a Federal (1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph and it is based on a bill Senator award to disclose all lobbying and political (1), by striking the period at the end of para- SALAZAR and I introduced that we hope advocacy.
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