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MR. COBURN: I ASK THAT WE CALL
UP AMENDMENT 2214 ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF AND THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO, SENATOR UDALL.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT WE BE
GIVEN THREE MINUTES ON THIS,
DIVIDED BETWEEN MYSELF AND
SENATOR UDALL.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE CLERK: THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA, MR. COBURN, FOR
HIMSELF AND OTHERS PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2214.
MR. COBURN: I YIELD MINUTE AND A
HALF TO THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO.
MR. UDALL: I WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA AND RISE
IN SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THIS
PROVISION IS INCLUDED IN LARGER
BILL I INTRODUCED THIS WEEK TO
REFORM OUR PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC
FINANCING SYSTEM AND I'D WELCOME
SUPPORT FOR THAT BROADER
INITIATIVE.
THIS IS A BIPARTISAN SHORT-TERM
STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE TO
PRESERVE MORE MONEY FOR PUBLICLY
FUNDED CANDIDATES WHO ARE
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT REGARDLESS
OF USING -- INSTEAD OF USING
THAT MONEY TO FUND WHAT WE KNOW
NOW AS EXTENSIVE PARTIES IN OUR
CONVENTIONS.
SO I'D URGE A YES VOTE.
THIS IS A WAY TO GET OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER, IT'S A SMALL
STEP BUT AN IMPORTANT STEP.
I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
OKLA HOMA FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN
THIS MATTER.
MR. COBURN: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MR. COBURN: 99% OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC HAS NO IDEA WHEN THEY
CHECK THE BOX THAT WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE ACTUAL AMERICAN TAXPAYER
DOLLARS AND SUBSIDIZE PARTY
CONVENTIONS FOR CANDIDATES WHO
HAVE BETTER ALREADY BEEN
DECIDED.
IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO LEAD AS A
BODY ON STARTING TO SOLVE SOME
OF OUR PROBLEMS, HERE'S WHERE
WE SHOULD START.
THIS IS $34.6 MILLION THAT GETS
DOLED OUT, NOT SPENT IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC, BUT THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE POLITICIANS FOR THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC.
IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
IT HAS NO EFFECT ON SECURITY.
IT HAS NO EFFECT ON THE PRESENT
ALLOCATION WHICH WAS MADE IN
JANUARY TO EACH PARTY.
IF WE CAN'T DO THIS, THIS
LITTLE, SIMPLE THING OF LEADING
BY EXAMPLE, THEN OUR COUNTRY IS
DOOMED BECAUSE THAT MEANS THE
VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN
FRONT OF US WE CAN'T SOLVE,
EITHER.
I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
AND VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WHO
YIELDS TIME?
THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MS. STABENOW: I WOULD YIELD BACK
ALL TIME AND SUGGEST WE PROCEED
TO THE VOTE.
IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE QUESTION IS ON AMENDMENT
2214.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE: