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| Mar May |
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To watch or listen to
the Senate floor live please visit
CSPAN2
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Thursday, April 29, 2004 |
With a vote of 93 in favor and 3 against the Senate approved final passage of S.150, the Internet Tax bill. Senator Frist has just announced that the Senate will not be in session and that there will be no votes until Tuesday of next week.
6:23:58 PM 
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The Senate voted 59-37 to table the Feinstein amendment and is now voting on final passage of the Internet Tax bill.
6:02:45 PM
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Senator McCain has moved that the Senate table Senator Feinstein's amendment and the Senate is now voting on this motion.
5:33:40 PM
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Senator Warner took ten minutes to speak against Senator Feinstein's amendment, saying that the Senate should not extend these taxes for another four years and across 3,000 miles. The Senator used floor charts to illustrate his points, for an image of one of his charts, click here.
5:12:10 PM
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Senator Feinstein is speaking about an amendment that she is proposing to the Internet Tax bill. Her amendment would modify the grandfather clause included in the bill. After Senator Feinstein finishes speaking there will be 40 minutes of debate before a vote around 5:30 on her amendment. A vote on final passage of the bill is expected after a vote on the Feinstein amendment.
4:54:29 PM
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Senator Dorgan and Senator Wyden have been speaking on the floor, indicating that they believe that the Senate is reasonably close to coming to an agreement on the Internet Tax bill. Senator Wyden has noted that he believes the votes taken by the Senate earlier today indicate that the body is ready to take action to protect the viability of the internet.
3:41:46 PM
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Senator Boxer has continued to paid tribute to the Californians that have died in Iraq by reading the names of the fallen, their age, and their hometown. She said that we owe it to families of the lost soldiers to find a plan to ensure that the world is with us and that the Iraqi people are with us so that we can turn the situation in Iraq around.
3:34:34 PM
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Joining a number of her colleagues in speaking as a tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq, Senator Barbara Boxer of California is talking about the 59 troops from her home state of California who were killed between March 22 and April 26 in Iraq.
3:13:51 PM
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Asking his colleagues to look at the past to see how we got to where we are today, Senator Conrad Burns is talking about the bombing at the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, the bombings at the embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and the attack on September 11, 2001. Saying that he could list a number of other terrorist attacks on Americans around the world, Senator Burns is saying that we have torn the heart out of the dragon and that is why our country has not been attacked on our own soil since September 11.
3:08:41 PM
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Senator Tom Daschle has come to the floor to honor Tom Lundregan, the head Enrolling Clerk in the U.S. Senate, for his 36 years of service to our country. Senator Daschle described the details of Tom's job which include proof-reading and preparing every page of legislation that the Senate passes to pass along to locations such as the House of Representatives and the National Archives. Senator Dodd joined Senator Daschle in thanking Tom for all his hard work.
2:43:00 PM
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Adding to his remarks earlier this morning, Senator Robert C. Byrd is reading Sir Walter Scott's poem "Lady of the Lake" as a tribute to the men and women in uniform who are honorably serving our country. Also, he is offering his condolences for the family and friends of Major Stack, who was killed in the war in Iraq.
2:31:21 PM
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Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut is talking about the nomination of John Negroponte to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Ambassador Negroponte served as the former ambassador to Honduras and is presently the U.S. representative to the United Nations. Saying that he knows it will be a difficult nomination, he is saying that he whole-heartedly supports the nomination. Speaking about the war in Iraq, Senator Dodd is stating that the Administration has failed to craft and implement a successful stabilization plan for Iraq. He is questioning what the situation in Iraq would be like today had we sent more troops from a broader coalition a year ago.
2:00:42 PM
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Senator Blanche Lincoln, urging listeners to become "one America," came to the floor to pay tribute to the five members from Arkansas who were in the 39th Infantry Brigade in Iraq and were killed last weekend.
1:47:32 PM
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Senator Carper came to the floor to outline what he sees as the important issues that must be resolved prior to the Senate voting on S.150. One important matter, he mentioned, was that the issue that state or local governments would be denied revenues, and another matter was the breadth of the definition.
1:42:13 PM
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The Senate voted 64-34 to invoke cloture on Senator McCain's substitute amendment to S.150. The Senate will now continue to debate the Internet Tax bill.
1:31:55 PM
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With a vote of 55-43, the motion to invoke cloture on Senator Domenici's amendment was not agreed to. The Senate will now have a few minutes of debate prior to voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Senator McCain's substitute amendment to S.150.
1:03:05 PM
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With a vote of 41-58, the motion to invoke cloture on Senator Daschle's amendment was not agreed to. The Senate will now have a few minutes of debate prior to voting on the motion to invoke cloture on Senator Domenici's amendment to S.150.
12:39:54 PM
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Senator Lamar Alexander is discussing the Unfunded Mandate Act and is saying that the Internet Tax bill would be in violation of that Act and would violate the Budget Act. Saying that he supports a two-year ban on state and local taxes on the Internet, he is concluding with the fact that ultimately Congress needs to have a more comprehensive debate.
12:09:33 PM
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Senator Carper is saying that at a point when states are facing their greatest fiscal crises, some of his colleagues are threatening to empty state treasuries. He concluded his remarks by urging his colleagues to vote no on cloture on the McCain substitute amendment.
12:03:57 PM
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Senator Ron Wyden is urging his colleagues to vote for cloture on the Internet tax bill. He has come to the floor to discuss the Alexander language which would open up the Internet to numerous state and local taxes. He is saying that the way in which telephone calls made over the Internet are taxed would not be changed under the McCain substitute, and he is hoping that the Senate will invoke cloture today on the McCain susbstitute.
11:59:45 AM
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After Senate Daschle came to the floor to say that Senator Domenici kept his word by removing language about MTBEs from his amendment, Senator Larry Craig is now saying that it is the fault of the politicans that an energy bill has not yet been passed. Senator Craig is saying that Senator Daschle's amendment will not fix the problems facing the American consumer today.
11:55:57 AM
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Senator Pete Domenici came to the floor to discuss the importance of the amendment which he is offering to S.150, the Internet Tax bill. He is saying that it is essential for the Senate to pass energy legislation, and he believes that his language is as good as it'll get.
11:44:27 AM
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Adding to Senators McConnell and McCain's comments, Senator Dianne Feinstein is expressing her support for the use of sanctions to be imposed on Burma. She is citing a recent State Department report which stated that Burma's human rights record has worsened in the past year. Senator Feinstein believes that the United States should keep pressure on the ruling junta in Burma even if Aung San Suu Kyi is released.
11:19:35 AM
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Senator Mitch McConnell, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, has come to the floor to talk about sanctions against Burma. He is beginning with a brief mention of Aung San Suu Kyi, a democratically-elected leader who has been placed on house arrest and is therefore unable to lead. She has become the symbol of Burmese freedom and democracy. Acknowledging that sanctions often are not productive, he is mentioning when sanctions in South Africa did in fact work and result in the end of a regime. Senator McCain is joining Senator McConnell in discussing this matter and is saying that the organization which is led by Aung San Suu Kyi is supportive of sanctions, because they believe it would be a way to deal with the present regime. Senator McConnell is raising the question that if the ruling regime in Burma had nuclear weapons it would look a lot like North Korea.
11:09:42 AM
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Senator Reid is responding to Senator Bond saying that 5,ooo people will be laid off if the two month extension is not granted for the transportation bill.
10:57:02 AM
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Senators Kit Bond and Harry Reid are discussing the Transportation bill, and Senator Reid is asking for a two-month extension so that both sides can work to create the best piece of legislation possible. Senator Bond is saying that it has been 11 weeks since the Senate passed the Transportation bill but is saying that his colleagues on the other side of the aisle are blocking going to conference. He is saying that he regretfully will have to block the extension.
10:54:18 AM
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Adding to Senator Thomas' comments on Medicare, Senator Enzi came to the floor to say that while some people are saying that the Medicare bill has a doughnut hole, he is saying that previously there wasn't even a doughnut.
10:43:24 AM
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Senator Craig Thomas is responding to comments made earlier this morning by other senators about the war in Iraq. Having been to Iraq, he is voicing his support for the war and the improvements he sees in the lives of Iraqis. Changing topics, Senator Thomas is discussing Medicare discount cards, saying that there will be about 40 different discount cards available. He is saying that the Medicare bill is the first time in 30 years that options have been given to seniors concerning Medicare and the first time that low- income seniors will receive so much help. He is saying that, in his home state of Wyoming, AARP is holding meetings throughout the state to help people better understand the new system.
10:31:01 AM
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Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota has come to the floor to urge his colleagues to support Senator Daschle's amendment to S.150, the Internet Tax bill, saying that it will take our country in the right direction.
10:23:18 AM
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Saying that it is characteristic of this Administration to say that choices are black and white, Senator Carl Levin is saying that the Administration has more options in the war on Iraq than staying the course or cutting and running. He is saying that if the Administration maintains that on June 30 there will be a restoration of Iraqi sovereignty but is pointing out that there is not a credible entity to which Iraq can be handed over to. He is urging the Administration to admit that mistakes have been made and that staying the course is not a successful solution.
10:19:50 AM
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Joining Senator Kennedy in coming to the floor to talk about the course of the war in Iraq, Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia is also reminding listeners that a year ago President Bush stood before a banner that declared "mission accomplished" and said that major combat operations in Iraq had ended. Stating that combat deaths are more than five times what they were a year ago, with this April being the deadliest month since the beginning of the war, Senator Byrd is saying that the Administration needs a realistic exit plan. Reading President Bush's recent quote that the U.S. must stay the course in Iraq, Senator Byrd is questioning whether staying the course is the right idea. Saying that this war is not only resulting in the deaths of hundreds of American troops and Iraqi civilians, Senator Byrd is saying that this war is resulting in America being less safe. He is saying that no longer can the war on terrorism be focused on Osama bin Laden, because al-Qaeda has become a "hydra-headed beast." Senator Byrd is asking how long must the blood of our country go toward fighting this President's war and how long must mothers and fathers see their children die because of President Bush's doctrine of preemptice attack. He is asking the country to remember those who have been made widows and orphans as a result of the President's war.
10:11:48 AM
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Beginning with reminding us that a year ago this Saturday President Bush stood in uniform and declared that concerning the war in Iraq the mission was accomplished, Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is saying that the war in Iraq has become a quagmire. Saying that this war squandered the international good will that our country received after September 11, Senator Kennedy is saying that this war could easily be the worst blunder in the entire history of the our country's foreign policy. He is pointing out that the Administration still does not have a plan for stabilizing Iraq.
9:59:37 AM
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Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota is discussing the obstacles that Native Americans in in the U.S. face today because of the federal goverment. He is mentioning that the President's budget makes numerous cuts to programs which help Native Americans, including cuts to tribal education funding, tribal "COPS" program and housing loan programs.
9:51:11 AM
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Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee is beginning this morning expressing his wish that the Senate will complete consideration of S.150 this week. Focusing on Senators Daschle and Domenici's amendments, Senator Frist is saying our country needs a comprehensive energy plan to address our nation's energy needs. Senator Frist concluded his remarks by urging his colleagues to oppose cloture on Senator Daschle's amendment.
9:44:07 AM
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The Senate will resume this morning at 9:30 for a period of morning business until 11:00, after which time debate on S.150, the Internet Tax bill, will resume. Approximately an hour of debate is then scheduled on Senator Daschle's amendment concerning renewable energy provisions, and the first vote of the day will take place around noon on this amendment.
9:30:35 AM
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Today's Fun Vermont Trivia Question:
After which famous philosopher and educator, who was born in Burlington, is UVM's Department of Psychology building named?
Wednesday’s Question: In 1839, the first French Canadian newspaper to be published in New England was published in Burlington. What was the name of this newspaper?
Answer: Le Patriote Canadien.
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9:27:16 AM
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