To watch or listen to the Senate floor live please visit CSPAN2

The Focus of Today's Session will be
the FY2005 Budget Resolution

6:50 P.M.

By a vote of 95-4 the Senate voted in favor to adopt the Warner amendment.  The Senate is now spending two minutes to debate before it votes on Senator Feingold's amendment. 

6:25 P.M.

By a vote of 47-52 the Byrd amendment was not agreed to.  There are now four minutes of debate over Senator Warner's amendment.  This amendment would restore funds in the budget to the levels requested by the President for defense spending. 

5:55 P.M.

The Senate is set to vote on three amendments, the Byrd Amendment, the Warner Amendment and then the Feingold Amendment.  Each vote is scheduled to be a ten minute vote. 

5:30 P.M.

Senator Carper of Delaware and Senator Conrad have been speaking about spending discipline, in the context of Senator Feingold's amendment that would fully reinstate the pay-as-you-go provision.  For text of Senator Feingold's amendment, click here. 

4:30 P.M.

Senator Warner of Virginia, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee is proposing an amendment to add $6.9 billion to the budget for defense related activities.  Text of this amendment will be posted as it becomes available.  There are additional votes expected this evening, most likely around 6:00 p.m.

4:15 P.M.

Senator Talent is speaking about the budget and defense spending.  He has recommended that the Army also increase full time enrollment by 30,000 soldiers, that veterans receive full concurrent receipt, even though these priorities are not included in the budget. 

3:45 P.M.

Senator Baucus and Senator Grassley have been speaking about tax policy and the budget.  Earlier Senator Byrd proposed an amendment that would provide for consideration of tax cuts outside of reconciliation.  For text of Senator Byrd's amendment, click here.

2:55 P.M.

Senator Byrd of West Virginia is speaking about his amendment regarding budget reconciliation.  The amendment that Senator Leahy cosponsored that would enhance military readiness by creating a reserve fund to provide TRICARE benefits for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, fully offset through reductions including unobligated balances from Iraqi reconstruction, and a reserve fund to provide Montgomery GI Bill benefits to members of the Selected Reserves passed by a voice vote.  For text of that amendment, click here. 

2:20 P.M.

Senator Leahy is speaking on the Senate floor about improving health insurance for National Guard soldiers.  He said that we need a comprehensive insurance program for soldiers that serve in the National Guard.  He went onto say that it is unacceptable to continue to ask men and women to go oversees to serve for a year or more in full time roles, but only offer them part time health care.  The text of the amendment Senator Leahy is cosponsoring on this issue will be posted as soon as it is available.  Click here for a link to Senator Leahy's statement on this issue.

2:00 P.M.

By a vote of 46-52 the Senate voted not to approve the Murray amendment.  Senator Nickles is now speaking to members about his goals for the remainder of the budget process.  Typically there are many amendments that are offered to the budget resolution.  Debate on the Budget resolution is limited to 50 hours, after this time expires, the Senate votes on any remaining amendments with very little time for debate between votes.  This process has become known as a "vote-a-rama." 

1:30 P.M.

After a morning of debate over Senator Murray's amendment, the Senate has now begun to vote.  Members from both sides of the aisle have spoken on the floor about the amendment that would fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act by closing tax loopholes.  For text of the amendment, click here. 

12:50 P.M.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Chairman of the Finance Committee, is reminding his colleagues that business in the Finance Committee will come to a "dead-end" unless amendments that are offered to the budget have bipartisan support.

12:30 P.M.

Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming, who has a background as an accountant, is stating a tax cut is not the only option that should be considered and is talking about the government being run as a business.

12:00 P.M.

Senator Landrieu of Louisiana is claiming that the arguments made by Senator Gregg were completely unfounded and untrue. She argued that, while Senator Gregg claimed that the Clinton administration funded education at a much lower level than the Bush administration, the truth is that they were unable to fund education at a higher level because they were working to decrease the deficit that had been left by the former Bush administration, and that in fact they increased funding when they had a surplus and were able to afford the increases. Senator Landrieu argued that she voted for the No Child Left Behind Act when the President had guaranteed funding for the training and funding of certifying teachers, as Louisiana has one of the lowest numbers of certified teachers in the country, but that he has failed to live up to his promise.

11:50 A.M.

Senator Gregg has been speaking for the last twenty minutes on the Murray amendment. He argues that the amendment will raise taxes, and that the amendment does not in fact say that the money accrued will go toward education.

11:20 A.M.

Senators Reed and Kennedy have each been expressing their support for Senator Murray’s amendment, each arguing that the funding for education is inadequate and listing the deficits that have occurred due to this lack of funding.

10:55 A.M.

Senator Landrieu of Louisiana is arguing that the Budget Resolution does not meet the promises that it makes and would further hurt our educational system, and put us further in the red.

10:45 A.M.

Senator Nickels of Oklahoma argues that the Murray Amendment increases taxes. He and Senator Baucus disagree about whether or not this amendment requires a tax increase, or simply closes tax loopholes.

10:20 A.M.

Senator Kennedy is voicing his disappointment with the failure of the Administration to properly fund No Child Left Behind, and he is giving many examples of schools in Massachusetts which have had to lay off teachers due to lack of funding. Senator Baucus also spoke in support of Senator Murray’s amendment, and spoke of how this lack of funding is affecting the paths students choose later in life, which affects the work force and economy. The Senator is also mentioning that support for national foundations and education through these foundations is critical to our continued leadership in the scientific field, as well as many others.

10:20 A.M.

Senator Conrad of North Dakota and Senator Mikulski of Maryland expressed their support for Senator Murray’s amendment and expounded upon the reasons that funding need to be increased for education.

10:15 A.M.

Senator Murray of Washington introduced her amendment that will add $8.6 billion to the funding for the No Child Left Behind Act. She argues that funding in schools across the country is inadequate and is resulting in the cutting of programs that are critical to our children’s health and education.

10:05 A.M.

Senator Conrad of North Dakota arguing that Kerry was not out of line in his statement as the Senate is well aware of military equipment and vehicles that were not properly outfitted to protect our troops.

10:00 A.M.

Senator Ensign of Nevada is discussing a statement made by Senator Kerry regarding the military being unprepared for our war in Iraq. He requested that Senator Kerry withdraw his remarks, and quoted several military leaders who said that we couldn’t have been more prepared.

9:50 A.M.

Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota is discussing the lack of job growth in this country for the last couple of years, and how the Administration has created far fewer jobs than was predicted.

9:30 A.M.

The Senate will convene this morning to resume consideration of S.Con.Res.95, the FY2005 Budget Resolution. The Budget Act limits debate on a budget resolution to 50 hours, including time taken for quorum calls but not including time taken for votes. In addition, the debate on an amendment is limited to two hours.  At the end of the fifty hours, amendments and motions may still be voted on; however, they may not be debated. 

Due to computer network problems, we unfortunately had to suspend More From the Floor yesterday afternoon. We apologize for the gap in coverage.