The Focus of Today's Session will be
S.1805, the Gun Liability Bill

6:20 P.M.

While most votes in the Senate are scheduled to last fifteen minutes, this vote lasted over an hour.  Votes will be held open for a number of reasons, frequently to allow Senators to return from other obligations off the Hill.  The final tally on the Bingaman amendment was 28-59 and the amendment was not agreed to.  After the vote Majority Whip McConnell asked unanimous consent that S.Res 306 be discharged from the Judiciary Committee and adopted.  No objections were offered and tomorrow March 2, will be recognized as Read Across America Day.  A number of Senators will speak this evening, but no more votes will be held this evening.  The Senate will return at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow to resume consideration of S.1805.  There will possibly be up to seven votes tomorrow on amendments to S.1805 in addition to a vote on final passage.

5:20 P.M.

The Senate is currently voting on Senator Bingaman's amendment that would broaden the exemptions provided in S.1805 by defining "reasonably foreseeable" as 'the reasonable anticipation that harm or injury is likely to result.'  Click here for the text of the Bingaman amendment.

3:55 P.M.

Senator Cornyn of Texas is speaking about instant background checks for the purchase of guns.  Earlier this year, as part of the Omnibus, the Senate passed a provision that requires the record of any background check be destroyed after 24 hours if the buyer is cleared for the purchase. 

2:50 P.M.

Senator Reed of Rhode Island and Senator Craig of Idaho have been speaking over the past hour about what Senator Reed has called the "gun show loophole."  Senator Craig has argued that he believes there is no loophole.

12:30 P.M.

Senator Feinstein has continued to speak on the Assault Weapons ban.  To illustrate her points Senator Feinstein has used large floor charts to show the banned weapons.  She has remarked that the weapons that would be banned are not guns that are used for hunting, but rather are weapons of war and designed to kill large numbers of people, quickly. 

12:20 P.M.

Senator Feinstein has offered an amendment that would provide a straight reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban.  The President has indicated that he would support a straight reauthorization.  The ban is set to expire this September. 

12:00 P.M.

The Senate will reconvene and resume consideration of S.1805, the Gun Liability bill for 4 hours of debate, equally divided between the two parties.  Both Senator Feinstein and Senator McCain will be recognized for 1 hour, and Senator Craig will be recognized for 2 hours.  A vote is expected at 5 p.m. on an amendment by Senator Bingaman.  The text of this amendment will be posted as soon as it is available.