Thursday, June 23, 2005

4:32 Senator Kerry on Comments by Karl Rove The Senate voted 69-26 to waive the Budget Act with regard to the Domenici amendment.  Following the vote Senator Kerry came to the floor to denounce comments made by Karl Rove last night at a political fundraiser.  The President's Deputy Chief of Staff said "Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." Conservatives, he said, "saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war."  Senator Kerry said that Mr. Rove owes an apology to the victims of 9/11 and that the President should repudiate Mr. Rove's comments or ask him to resign.  4:32:07 PM

3:56 Vote on Domenici Amendment The Senate is voting on the Motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Domenici amendment that would provide $250 million per year from existing royalties to six states that produce offshore oil and gas.  The states would include Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, California and Alaska.  Each state would receive a minimum payment of $2.5 million a year based on the amount of revenues produced from leased tracts within 200 miles of the state.  A unanimous consent agreement has been reached that will limit the number of remaining amendments that will be offered to the Energy bill.  3:56:48 PM

12:44 Cloture Invoked on Energy Bill Earlier this morning the senate voted 92-4 cloture to invoke cloture on the Energy bill.  Debate will continue today and tomorrow on the bill as the Majority leader tries to finish work on this legislation this week.  Currently the Senate is debating a Domenici amendment that pertains to offshore production.  Senator Allen and Senator Domenici are having a colloquy about why Senator Allen chose to become a member of the Energy Committee.  Senator Allen said that he wanted to have an impact on what he viewed as the most important bill the Senate would consider this year.    12:44:32 PM

10:03 Cloture Vote on Energy Bill Earlier this morning Senator Kennedy and Senator Leahy made statements regarding the possibility of a vacancy on the Supreme Court.  Senator Leahy said that in advance of a vacancy he has called on the president to work with the Senate to choose a nominee.  He continued to say that he will work with the President to find a nominee that will unite Americans, not divide them.  The Senate is now voting on a motion to invoke cloture on the Energy bill.  If cloture is invoked remaining debate on the bill will be limited to 30 hours and then a vote on final passage of the legislation will occur.  10:03:47 AM