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ION.
YOU KNOW, THIS
AMENDMENT IS ABOUT WHITE
SQUIRREL SANCTUARIES MUSEUMS,
ROADSIDE LANDSCAPING, LINCOLN
HIGHWAY ROADSIDE MUSEUM, ANTIQUE
BIKE COLLECTIONS -- MY FAVORITE,
NATIONAL CORVETTE SIMULATOR
THEATER.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO TO THAT
ONE, SINCE MY FIRST PURCHASE AS
A YOUNG NAVAL OFFICER WAS A
WONDERFUL CORVETTE THAT I
REMEMBER WITH GREAT AFFECTION.
SO I'D LIKE TO GO BACK INTO
THEIR SIMULATOR THEATER.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WILDLIFE
ECOPACKAGES -- PASSAGES.
WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PICTURES
HERE OF SOME OF THE THINGS.
I THINK THE SQUIRREL SANK
GOOD -- I THINK THE
SQUIRREL SANCTUARY IS GOOD, BUT
ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS THE
ROADSIDE MUSEUM FEATURING A
GIANT COFFEE POT.
AND YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME FUN
STUFF REALLY.
60 ANTIQUE BIKES FOR A A BICYCLE
MUSEUM.
THEY PAID $440,000 FOR THAT --
FOR 60 ANTIQUE BIKES FOR A
BICYCLE MUSEUM.
NOW, AGAIN, I THINK BICYCLE
MUSEUMS ARE REALLY NICE, BUT,
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO A FACT THAT
MORE PEOPLE TRAVEL OVER
DEFICIENT BRIDGES EVERY DAY --
THAT'S 210 MILLION PEOPLE --
THAN GO TO McDONALD'S.
SO WE HAVE THESE PROJECTS HERE,
AND OBVIOUSLY, FULL DISCLOSURE,
WE PICKED SOME OF THE MORE
INTERESTING AND EXCITING ONES TO
GET OUR COLLEAGUES' ATTENTION.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE
DEFICIENT BRINLS, WE HAVE
HIGHWAYS THAT NEED -- WE HAVE
DEFICIENT BRIDGES, WE HAVE
HIGHWAYS THAT NEED REPAIR.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS,
LET THE STATES DECIDE THEIR
PRIORITIES.
DO NOT FORCE THE STATES TO SET
ASIDE 10% OF THEIR FUNDING FOR
THESE SO-CALLED TRANSPORTATION
ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
IF THEY WANT TO HAVE ENHANCEMENT
ACTIVITIES -- AND WE DO -- AND
WE DO; I'M SO PLEASED DRIVING
THROUGH PHOENIX AND TUCSON TO
SEE THE BOUGANVILLA AND THE
CACTUS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN
WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
BUT THOSE DECISIONS ON THOSE
STATE HIGHWAYS WERE MADE BY THE
STATE OF ARIZONA AND THE CITIES
AND THE COUNTIES.
HAVE FORCED EVERY
STATE IN AMERICA TO USE 10% OF
THEIR TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, WHICH
ARE IN THE FORM OF GASOLINE
TAXES, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY PUT
IN TO BUILD A NATIONAL HIGHWAY
SYSTEM IN AMERICA UNDER THE
EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION, THAT
THEY PAY -- THEY PAY.
AND SO, AT THE SAME TIME, WE
HAVE A SITUATION SUCH AS THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN SOUTHERN
NEVADA OF THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING -- QUOTE
-- "IT'S REALLY GETTING OUT OF
HAND TO WHERE THESE POTS OF
MONEY HAVE THOSE CONSTRAINTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, AND YOU
CAN'T SPEND MONEY WHERE YOU WANT
TO."
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
A FUNDAMENTAL
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE THAT WE
HAVE ABOUT WHERE TAXPAYERS'
DECIDES.
DOLLARS SHOULD GO AND WHO
THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS
ABOUT.
I WANT THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX TO
DECIDE WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
I WANT THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION IN ARIZONA TO
DECIDE WHERE THE MONEY IS BEST
SPENT.
AND SO WE SHOULDN'T BE FORCING
PEOPLE TO SPEND MONEY ON THINGS
THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY ANYMORE.
I THINK A SQUIRREL -- I THINK
THAT THE SQUIRREL -- WHITE
SQUIRREL SANCTUARY IS PROBABLY
AN IMPORTANT THING, AND SQUIRREL
LOVERS ALL OVER AMERICA ARE
OVERJOYED, BUT WHO LOVES THIS
BOULDER?
REALLY.
$498,750 TO BEAUTIFY AN
INTERCHANGE WITH DECORATIVE
ROCKS?
WELL -- AND, IT'S NOT AS IF THIS
MONEY IS SPENT IN A HAVE VACUUM.
IT REALLY IS THAT WE HAVE TO SET
PRIORITIES.
AND I'D LIKE FOR THE STATES TO
SET THOSE PRIORITIES RATHER THAN
IT BE MANDATED BY SOME PROVISION
ENACTED HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, WHICH REALLY DOES
NOT HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT
THOSE STATES' PRIORITIES ARE.
I NOTE THE PRESENCE OF THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON WHO
WOULD LIKE TO USE A FEW MINUTES
IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
HER ELOQUENT OPPOSITION.
MAYBE SHE'LL CHANGE MY MIND.
I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM
WASHINGTON.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON.
M.F.N. MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD
VERY MUCH LIKE TO THANK THE --
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO THANK
THE SENATOR FOR YIELDING ME SOME
TIME AND WILL TAKE A COUPLE
MINUTES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION
739.
IN THE McCAIN AMENDMENT NUMBER
NOW, I PWHRAOEFT
INTENT TO MY COLLEAGUE IS TO USE
THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
NATION USE FOR PATH PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS THAT SEPARATE
VEHICLES FROM WILDLIFE.
I BELIEVE COMMUNITIES SHOULD
DETERMINE THAT FOR THEMSELVES,
AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR DECADES.
HOW TO USE THOSE FUNDS AND THAT
THE PROPER PLACE FOR UPDATING
THESE LAWS WOULD BE IN THE
REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS.
SO I OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT ON
THOSE GROUNDS ALONE.
HOWEVER, THE AMENDMENT GOES MUCH
FURTHER THAN THAT.
IT ACTUALLY PROHIBITS THE USE OF
FUNDS IN THE ENTIRE DIVISION C.
THAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION,
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
ACT FOR ANY LANDSCAPING ANDING
PRESERVATION.
THIS IMPACTS NOT ONLY THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUT
ALSO H.U.D.
IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD PROHIBIT
CITIES AND TOWNS FROM AOUGS
THEIR C.D. -- USING THEIR CDBG
DOLLARS FOR HISTORIC
PRESERVATION, BASIC LANDSCAPING
OR STREETSKAEUPG ACTIVITIES.
PROHIBITS THE USE OF FUNDS FOR
RESTORATION OF HISTORIC
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT WOULD
CRIPPLE AMTRAK.
THERE ARE OVER 126 STATIONS THAT
AMTRAK SERVICES IN 41 STATES
THAT ARE ON A NATIONAL REGISTER
OF HISTORIC PLACES.
UNDER THIS AMENDMENT, AMTRAK
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE OR
REHABILITATE ANY OF THEM.
AMTRAK COULD NOT MAKE ANY
IMPROVEMENTS TO STATIONS TO
COMPLY WITH ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT.
AND AMTRAK COULD NOT EVEN
OPERATE IN UNION STATION.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD ALSO
PROHIBIT THE STRUCTURAL
OR REHABILITATION
OF HISTORIC BRIDGES SUCH AS THE
BROOKLYN BRIDGES OR OTHER
COVERED BRIDGES IN THE
NORTHEAST.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS
AMENDMENT GOES TOO FAR, AND IT
IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND
APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY CONSIDERING.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
OPPOSE THE McCAIN AMENDMENT.
AGAIN, I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR
YIELDING ME TIME.
CANE --
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
I BELIEVE I HEARD
THE SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON SAY
AMTRAK.
IT WOULD PROHIBIT ACTIVITIES BY
I KNOW OF NOTHING IN THIS PAGE
AND A QUARTER AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD IN ANY WAY AFFECT AMTRAK
OR THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
IN FACT, I WOULD LIKE THE MONEY
TO BE USED TO PREPARE -- REPAIR
BRIDGES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY THOUSANDS OF BRIDGES IN THE
COUNTRY -- THERE 146,643
DEFICIENT BRIDGES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I WOULD HOPE THE SENATOR FROM
WASHINGTON WOULD AGREE WITH ME
THAT THIS MONEY, DEFICIENT
BRIDGES ARREST THREAT AND A
AND A DANGER.
DANGER -- BRIDGES ARE A THREAT
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON WHERE ONE COLLAPSED,
AS I CALL.
YOU CAN DISTORT THIS AMENDMENT
IF YOU WANT TO.
YOU CAN SAY THAT IT WOULD BE THE
END OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION AS
WE KNOW IT.
YOU CAN SAY THAT THIS WILL CAUSE
IRREPARABLE HARM AND DAMAGE.
IT DOESN'T, MY FRIENDS.
IT DOESN'T.
IT JUST SAYS NONE OF THE AMOUNTS
WOULD BE FOR SCENIC OR HISTORIC
HIGHWAYS AND WELCOME CENTERS.
WE'RE NOT PROHIBITING THESE
THINGS FROM BEING BUILT.
IF THE STATES WANT TO BUILD
THEM, COUNTIES WANT TO BUILD
THEM, CITIES WANT TO BUILD THEM,
LET THEM DO IT.
LET THEM DO T. BUT RIGHT NOW
WE'RE MANDATING 10% OF THE MONEY
THEY GET GO TO CERTAIN PURPOSES
WHICH RESULTS IN THIS OUTCOME.
SO, I SAY WITH RESPECT TO MY
COLLEAGUES IN -- THAT ARE
OPPOSING THIS AMENDMENT, IF
YOU'D LIKE TO AMEND THE
AMENDMENT SO THAT IT DOESN'T
HAVE THE DRACONIAN EFFECTS THAT
ARE PREDICTED HERE, I'D BE MORE
THAN HAPPY TO AMEND THE
AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY HERE AND
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT CLEARLY SAYS
IN ITS TEN LINES ON THE FRONT
AND FOUR LINES ON THE BACK, THAT
WE JUST THINK THAT THESE THINGS
ARE UNNECESSARY IN LIGHT OF THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH
INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEED OF
REPAIR.
SO, AGAIN, I HAD NO
CONTEMPLATION THAT THE, THAT
CIVILIZATION WOULD BE AFFECTED
SO TERRIBLY BY SUCH AN AMENDMENT
WHICH WOULD TRY TO GIVE THE
DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION IN
SOUTHERN NEVADA BE ABLE TO SAY
-- QUOTE -- "IT'S REALLY GETTING
OUT OF HAND TO WHERE THESE SPOTS
OF MONEY HAVE THESE CONSTRAINTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, AND YOU
CAN'T SPEND MONEY WHERE YOU WANT
TO."
THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS
ALL ABOUT, MY FRIENDS.
I HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN MANY
DEBATES ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE ON VARIOUS AMENDMENTS.
BUT TO CONSTRUE THIS VERY SHORT
AMENDMENT AS SOMEHOW INHIBITING
OR HARMFUL TO THE WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE IS OBVIOUSLY,
IN MY VIEW, FAIRLY TRANSPARENT
APPLICABLE TO
THIS AMENDMENT.
REMAINING --
SO HOW MUCH TOEUPL DO I HAVE
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE
REMAINING?
3
MINUTES, 23 SECONDS.
SENATOR INHOFE
WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT TIME, I'D
BE HAPPY TO USE.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THE LAST TEN
DIVIDED.
MINUTES WOULD BE EQUALLY
BUT PERHAPS THE SENATOR FROM
ARIZONA HAS ALREADY USED MAYBE
IS THAT CORRECT?
TWO OF THOSE MINUTES.
I JUST WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED --
CORRECT.
-- SAY FOR SIX
MINUTES, IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
IN OPPOSITION.
IS THIS
IN ADDITION TO YOUR EXISTING
THREE MINUTES.
SAY THAT AGAIN.
IN
ADDITION TO YOUR FIVE MINUTES
THAT WERE ALLOCATED.
A TOTAL OF 11 MINUTES OF DEBATE?
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, LET ME JUST CLARIFY THIS
T. DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA OR TO
I HAVE.
I NEED TO HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO
CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER:.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I'M HAPPY TO YIELD MY FIVE
MINUTES TO SENATOR INHOFE AT THE
APPROPRIATE POINT.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I THINK THE
APPROPRIATE TIME IS HERE.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, I DISAGREE WITH
THE SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON FOR
A DIFFERENT REASON THAN THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA DISAGREES
WITH HER.
ENOUGH.
SHE SAYS IT DOESN'T GO FAR
FAR.
I THINK HIS AMENDMENT GOES TOO
FAR.
NOT JUST NOT FAR ENOUGH, BUT TOO
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
LET ME TALK TO THE
CONSERVATIVES.
LET ME TALK TO THE REPUBLICANS
BECAUSE THIS THING IS CERTAINLY
MISUNDERSTOOD.
IT WASN'T DRAFTED THE WAY TO
CARRY OUT THE INTENT OF THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA, I'M QUITE
SURE.
THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T ELIMINATE
THE MANDATE THAT STATES HAVE TO
SPEND 10% OF THEIR SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS ON
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS.
FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, THE
10% REALLY IS NOT REPRESENTED
PROPERLY.
IT REALLY SHOULD BE 2%.
IT'S 2% OF THE STATE'S TOTAL
HIGHWAY PROGRAM.
THAT HAPPENS TO EQUAL 10% OF THE
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
LET'S USE 10%.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 11 WRITTEN
INTO LAW, 11 ELIGIBLE
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT
ACTIVITIES.
THESE 11 -- THERE'S NOT ROOM TO
PUT THEM ALL UP BUT SIT THAT
CHART UP.
WHAT THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA IS
SAYING IS YOU STILL HAVE TO
SPEND THE 10% OF THE MONEY, OF
YOUR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
MONEY ON TRANSPORTATION
ENHANCEMENTS.
BUT HE'S SAYING THE STATES HAVE
TO USE IT ON HIS, HIS
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS.
THOSE ARE THE BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES.
THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
RAILS TO TRAILS -- THAT'S
ANOTHER BIKE -- THE PWAOEURBGS
ARE GOING TO BE -- BIKERS ARE
GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY WITH
THIS.
THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES COMING
BE
PASSED.
THEN ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION.
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION, IN OUR
LAW IS RESTRICTED SPECIFICALLY
TO WILDLIFE, BRIDGES AND TUNNELS
AND STORM WATER RUNOFF
ENHANCEMENTS.
STORM WATER RUNOFF IS TAKEN CARE
OF ANYWAY.
THESE ARE THE ENHANCEMENTS.
WH WE'RE SAYING IS -- WHAT WE'RE
SAYING IS OR WHAT THIS AMENDMENT
IS SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO SPEND THIS 10% ON BICYCLES
AND ON VARIOUS TYPES OF
WILDLIFE, BRIDGES AND TUNNELS SO
THAT THE TURTLES CAN GET UNDER
OVER.
THE HIGHWAYS AND NOT GET RUN
AND THAT IS NOT WHAT I KNOW THAT
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA WANTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE TAKING
THE FLEXIBILITY AWAY FROM THE
CITIES, AWAY FROM THE STATES AND
SAYING TO THEM YOU'VE GOT TO
SPEND YOUR 10%, AND YOU'VE GOT
THINGS.
TO SPEND IT ON THESE FOUR
I JUST WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT
MY STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THIS IS
NOT THE FOUR THINGS THAT WE
WOULD WANT TO SPEND IT ON.
I COME DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME,
AND THIS MENTALITY THAT WE HAVE
IN WASHINGTON, NO IDEA IS A GOOD
IDEA UNLESS IT COMES FROM
WASHINGTON.
WELL, IN MY STATE OF OKLAHOMA,
WE HAVE A GREAT HIGHWAY PROGRAM.
I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE LATITUDE
TO DECIDE WHAT IS REALLY BEST.
NOW, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE, SENATOR BOXER, SHE
AND I HAVE DISAGREED ON
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TOOTH AND
NAIL.
WE FOUGHT WITH EACH OTHER MORE
THAN ANY TWO PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE.
AND SHE KNOWS THAT I'VE DONE
EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO DO
AWAY WITH ALL TRANSPORTATION
ENHANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS.
I'VE DONE THIS.
IF THIS AMENDMENT HAD ELIMINATED
THE MANDATE THAT STATES SPEND
10% OF THEIR SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDS ON
ALL TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS,
I PHILOSOPHICALLY WOULD HAVE
SUPPORTED IT.
IF THE McCAIN AMENDMENT HAD
SAID THAT WE WANT TO DO AWAY
WITH ALL TRANSPORTATION
ENHANCEMENT, SREULD
PHILOSOPHIC -- I WOULD HAVE
PHILOSOPHICALLY SUPPORTED IT.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WE
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET A
HIGHWAY BILL DONE.
I OFTEN SAY I HAVE BEEN RANKED
AS THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBER
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR
PROBABLY THAN ANYONE ELSE.
BUT I ALSO SAID I'M A BIG
SPENDER IN TWO AREAS.
NUMBER ONE IS NATIONAL DEFENSE.
NUMBER TWO IS INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE
AND BRIDGES.
SUPPOSED TO BE DOING HERE: ROADS
I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
RECALL DURING THE DEBATE ON THE
EXTENSION OF THE HIGHWAY BILL
LAST MONTH SENATORS BOXER,
COBURN, REID AND I WORKED OUT AN
AGREEMENT THAT REFORMS THE T-PGS
ENHANCEMENT -- REFORMS THE
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT
PROGRAM WHICH WOULD BE INCLUDED
IN THE NEXT HIGHWAY BILL THAT
THE E.P.W. COMMITTEE WILL BE
MARKING UP NEXT MONTH.
AND I HOPE WE ARE MARKING THESE
UP NEXT MONTH.
THESE REFORMS WOULD ALLOW THE
STATES TO MAKE A DETERMINATION
HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THEIR
FUNDS.
IF YOU GO BACK TO THIS 10%, THIS
WOULD INCREASE -- THE IDEA
BEHIND THIS, IT WOULD INCREASE
WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO AND LET
THE STATES MAKE THE DISCRETION
SO THEY CAN TOTALLY ELIMINATE
ALL ENMENTS.
THE STATES CAN DO THAT.
WOULD IT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE
10% OF THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS ON THE
VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT
THERE HAVING TO DO WITH
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND THE
BURYING BEETLE AND ALL THAT?
ARE.
THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS REALLY
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
MISTAKENLY VOTE FOR THE McCAIN
AMENDMENT AND SAY TO THE PEOPLE
OF THIS COUNTRY THAT YOU'VE GOT
TO SPEND 10% MUCH YOUR SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS ON THESE
FOUR THINGS.
AGAIN, THE BIKERS WOULD LOVE IT,
BIKE TRAILS AND ALL THAT, BUT I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING HERE.
I'LL RETAIN THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
SENATOR'S TIME IS EXPIRED.
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA HAS 2
MINUTES 55 SECONDS.
SEE MY COLLEAGUE
FROM TEXAS ON THE FLOOR.
DID SHE HAVE -- MADAM PRESIDENT,
AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO
WE DO WITH THE MONEY?
OBVIOUSLY WHEN TAXPAYERS ARE
TOLD THAT WITH 146,633 DEFICIENT
BRIDGES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE
DON'T NEED TO BE SPENDING THEM
ON THE EXAMPLES THAT I HAVE
PROVIDED.
I HOPE THAT IT IS WELL
UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S TIME WE --
IF THOSE PROJECTS ARE FELT
NEEDED BY THE STAEUPTS AND THE
COUNTY AND THE HREBGTED
OFFICIALS IN THE STATES, THEY
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD WITH
THEM.
IF THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO, THEY
SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT NOT
TO.
IT'S TIME SOME OF THIS KIND OF
STUFF STOPPED.
I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE AND
MY COLLEAGUES WILL VOTE IN FAVOR
THE AMENDMENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I'D ASK THE CHAIR
HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE REMAINING.
NO TIME
IS REMAINING.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT I HAVE 30 SECONDS
REMAINING.
IS THAT OKAY?
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ONLY WANT TO SAY
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA IS SAYING
IN TERMS OF BRIDGES.
I HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE BRIDGES
AND HIGHWAYS.
I'VE TRIED MY BEST TO GET RID OF
ALL THE ENHANCEMENTS.
ALL OF THEM.
BUT TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT
SAYS TO MY STATE OF OKLAHOMA
YOU'VE STILL GOT TO SPEND 10% OF
YOUR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
FUNDS BUT YOU'VE GOT TO SPEND IT
ON BIKE TRAILS AND TURTLE
BRIDGES, I THINK IT'S WRONG.
WITH THAT, I WILL --
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE
WILL PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING NOMINATIONS.
NOMINATIONS MARK
RAYMOND HORNAK TO BE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
DAVID MARIANI TO BE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
ROBERT N. SCOLA JR. OF FLORIDA
TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
UNDER
JUDGE.
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THERE WILL
BE TEN MINUTES OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED IN THE USUAL FORM.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER -- WHO
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
YIELDS TIME?
THE
SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
NOMINEES.
RISE TO SPEAK ABOUT BOTH
I'LL START WITH BOB MARIANI.
I REFER TO HIM THAT WAY BECAUSE
I'VE KNOWN HIM A LONG TIESM BUT
THE FULL NAME IS ROUGH ROBERT
DAVID MARIANA.
BOB MARIANA IS SOMEONE THAT I
KNOW TO BE A PERSON OF NOT JUST
HIGH INTELLECT AND ABILITY BUT
ALSO SOMEONE OF GREAT INTEGRITY.
HE WAS BORN IN SCRANTON,
PENNSYLVANIA, THE SAME CITY I
WAS BORN IN.
HE.
I STILL LIVE THERE AND SO DOES
LAW DEGREE ***
LAUDE IN 1976 FROM THE CARE US
COULD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.
ALSO RECEIVED HIS COLLEGE
EDUCATION *** LAUDE FROM
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY GRADUATING
WITHIN THE TOP 10% OF HIS CLASS,
AND HE WAS RANKED SECOND WITHIN
HIS MAJOR FIELD OF STUDY AS AN
UNDERGRADUATE.
BOB MARIANA IS A WELL-RESPECTED
LAWYER AND ADVOCATE IN
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
HE'S RECEIVED THE HIGHEST
RATING, WELL-QUALIFIED, FROM THE
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION.
HE SPENT 34 YEARS AS A CIVIL
LITIGATOR IN SCRANTON, PARKS
WHERE HE SPECIALIZES IN LABOR
AND EMPLOYMENT LAW.
SINCE 2001, HE'S BEEN THE SOLE
SHAREHOLDER IN THE LAW FIRM THAT
BEARS HIS NAISM HE IS ALSO THE
SOLE PROPRIETOR OF A SIMILAR LAW
OFFICE THAT BEARS HIS NAME FROM
1993 TO THE YEAR 2001.
AN EARLIER
ITERATION OF THAT LAW FIRM
MARIANA AND GRECO.
HE HAS TAUGHT LABOR LAW AT PENN
STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAS BEEN AN
INSTRUCTOR AT PENN STATE'S UNION
ACADEMY PROGRAM.
A WHOLE SERIES OF COMMENDATIONS
AND AWARDS THAT I WON'T LIST FOR
PURPOSES OF THE TIME WE HAVE
TODAY.
BUT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING I COULD SAY ABOUT BOB --
AND I KNOW I MIGHT BE A LITTLE
BIASED BECAUSE I KNOW HIM AND
HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR HIM --
BUT THIS IS A PERSON WHO WILL
APPLY THE LAW, THIS IS A PERSON
WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN
SOMEONE COMES BEFORE HIM, THEY
SHOULD BE ACCORDED BASIC
FAIRNESS, NO MATTER WHO THEY
ARE, NO MATTER WHAT POINT OF
VIEW, NOWHERE WHERE THEY COME
COME FROM.
FROM -- NO MATTER WHERE THEY
AND I KNOW THAT INTEGRITY AND
COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE
OF NOT JUST THE LAW BUT THE
THAT A JUDGE CAN
PROVIDE, THAT THOSE VALUES WILL
GUIDE BOB MARIANA AS A JUDGE,
AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE'LL BE
VOTING ON HIS NOMINATION.
ALSO TODAY, MARK RAYMOND HORNAK.
I KNOW MARK NOT AS LONG AS I'VE
KNOWN BOB MARIAN NARCS BUT MORE
THAN -- MARIANA, BUT MORE THAN
15 YEARS NOW.
HE IS A NATIVE OF SOUTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, JUST BY WAY OF A
QUICK SUMMERY OF HIS EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND, HE GOT HIS LAW
DEGREESSUME CALM LAUD -- MEANING
THE HIGHEST HONORS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH LAW
SCHOOL GRADUATING SECOND HAD HIS
CLASS.
HE WAS EDITOR OF CHIEF OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH LAW
REVIEW.
GOT HIS COLLEGE DEGREE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AS WELL
AND WAS A DEAN'S LIST STUDENT
AND A MEMBER OF THE HONOR
SOCIETY THERE.
HIS CAREER HAS BEEN VARIED AND
ADVOCATE.
SIGNIFICANT, AS A LAWYER AND
PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM OF
BUCHANAN, INGERSOLL, AND ROONEY
SINCE 1982.
HE HAS SPECIALIZED IN CIVIL
LITIGATION, LABOR, EMPLOYMENT
LAW, MEDIA DEFENSE AND
GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATION AND
IS A MEMBER OF THE FIRM'S
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
HE'S THE SOLICITOR OF THE SPORTS
AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY OF
PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
AND HE ALSO HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE
IN HIS COMMUNITY IN PITTSBURGH.
HE ALSO REPRESENTS A NATIONAL
TELEVISION, RADIO PUBLISHING
CLIENTS IN MEDIA LITIGATION
AMENDMENT.
INCLUDING DEFAMATION AND FIRST
PRIOR TO COMING TO THE BUCHANAN,
INNER SOCIALTION AND ROONEY
FIRM, MARK SERVED AS LAW CLERK
TO THE HONORABLE JAMES M.
SPROUSE OF THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT -- I'M SO, THE UNITED
STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE
FOURTH CIRCUIT.
HE AS WELL -- MARK AS WELL HAS A
LONG LIST OF HONORS AND
ACHIEVEMENTS THAT I WON'T LIST
TODAY.
BUT, AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO HAS
GREAT INTEGRITY AND ABILITY, BUT
ALSO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
THAT SERVING ON THE BENCH ON A
FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT, WHETHER
IT'S IN BOB MARIANA'S CASE OR IN
MARK HORNAK'S CASE, THE SERVICE
OF THAT KIND IS PUBLIC SERVICE.
WITH THAT COMES THE
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS
OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT.
BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES
UNDERSTAND THAT.
BOTH BOB MARIANA AND MARK HORNAK
AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO
SPEAK TODAY REGARDING THEIR
NOMINATIONS.
I WOULD URGE A "YES" VOTE ON
BOTH NOMINATIONS.
I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE
HAVE A JUDGE THAT WILL BE IN
FRONT OF THE SENATE, AND IT'S MY
OUT.
UNDERSTANDING IT'S BEEN WORKED
IT IS GOING TO BE BY VOICE VOTE.
THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEE, THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, FOR HANDING THIS WITH
DISPATCH.
IN A BIG GROWTH STATE LIKE
FLORIDA WHERE THERE IS SUCH A
CASELOAD IN THE FEDERAL
JUDICIARY, WHEN WE HAVE A
VACANCY, IT NEEDS TO BE A. ATTENDED
TO RIGHTWAY.
FORTUNATELY, WE TRIED -- THE TWO
SENATORS FROM FLORIDA TRIED TO
TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THE
SELECTION OF JUDGES BY LETTING
THAT INTERVIEWING PROCESS, THE
SELECTION BE DONE BY A PANEL OF
PROMINENT CITIZENS CALLED A
JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION,
AND THEY RECOMMEND AT LEAST
THREE TO THE TWO SENATORS.
THE SENATORS THEN INTERVIEW THEM
AND LET THE WHITE HOUSE KNOW,
HOUSE HAS AGREED,
MUCH TO THE CREDIT OF THIS WHITE
HOUSE, THAT THEY WILL SELECT
FROM AMONG THOSE THAT WE SUBMIT.
AND THOSE THAT WE SUBMIT ARE THE
ONES THAT CAME OUT OF THE
JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION.
AND, THUS, WITH THE SELECTION OF
JUDGE ROBERT SCOLA, WHO WE WILL
CONFIRM TODAY, WHO WAS NOMINATED
IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, HE RECEIVED
HIS BACHELOR'S FROM GRAHAM, WENT
TO BOSTON COLLEGE FOR LAW
SCHOOL, AND HE WAS GRADUATING
*** LAUDE, SPENT SIX YEARS
WORKING AS A PROSECUTOR IN THE
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY STATE
ATTORNEYS' OFFICE.
HE THEN PRACTICED LAW AS A
CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY,
REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS AND
CORPORATIONS IN BOTH STATE AND
FEDERAL COURTS.
APPOINTED BACK IN
1995 BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE
11th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
BENCH, WHERE HE HAS SAT AS A
STATE COURT JUDGE ALL THE WAY UP
UNTIL TODAY.
HE RECEIVED HIS WELL-QUALIFIED
RATING FROM THE AMERICAN BAR AND
CERTAINLY SENATOR LUBE YOW AND I
-- RUBIO AND I HAVE TOLD THE
WHITE HOUSE WHEN WE SUBMITTED
THE NAMES FROM THE JUDICIAL
NOMINATING COMMISSION THAT WE
CERTAINLY AGREED WITH ALL OF
THESE NOMINEES.
AND SO WITH THIS STRONG
TRADITION OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
FOR OUR JUDICIAL NOMINEES, I
BRING TO THE SENATE'S ATTENTION
FOR CONFIRMATION JUDGE ROBERT
SCOLA.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
JUST RISE FOR LITERALLY 30
SECONDS.
WHAT I FAILED TO DO WHEN I WAS
TALKING ABOUT BOTH NOMINEES WAS
TO THANK SENATOR TOO MANIY, MY
COLLEAGUE FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
WE WORKED TOGETHER ON BOTH OF
THESE NOMINEES AT A PROCESS TO
ARRIVE RAT A CONSENSUS POSITION.
SO I AM GRATEFUL FOR SENATOR
TOOMEYTOOMEY'S HELP ON THIS AND THANK
THANKFUL FOR THE STAFF'S HELP AS
WELL.
I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE HORNAK
AND SCOLA NOMINATIONS ARE
CONFIRMED AND THE QUESTION
OCCURS ON THE MARIANA
NOMINATION.
-- ON THE MARIANI NOMINATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
IS
THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE
THERE ANY SENATORS IN THE
CHAMBER WISHING TO VOTE OR
CHANGE THEIR VOTE?
ARE THERE ANY SENATORS WHO
HAVEN'T VOTED WHO WISH TO VOTE?
ALL
NAYS.
RIGHT, THE VOTE IS 82 YEAS, 17
THE NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER ARE
CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID UPON
THE TABLE, THE PRESIDENT WILL BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
THE SENATE
WILL RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER,
THERE'LL BE TWO MINUTES OF
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA,
MR. McCAIN, AND THE SENATOR
FROM CALIFORNIA, MRS. BOXER, OR
THEIR DESIGNEES.
ORDER BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO
MINUTES FROM SENATOR McCAIN
AND TWO MINUTES FROM SENATOR --
OH, I'M SORRY, ONE MINUTE EACH
FOR SENATOR McCAIN AND FOR
SENATOR BOXER OR THEIR
DESIGNEES.
SO, PLEASE, ORDER.
THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA -- I
MADAM PRESIDENT,
WOULD ASK ORDER.
COULD WE'VE ORDER?
YES.
I WOULD ASK ORDER.
THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, THE
REASON I ASK FOR ORDER IS
BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT AFFECTS
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND
YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THE McCAIN AMENDMENT SAYS TO
THE STATES THAT THEY CAN'T USE A
CERTAIN SECTION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL FOR SEVERAL
THINGS, INCLUDING SCENIC OR
HISTORIC HIGHWAY PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING TOURIST CENTERS,
LANDSCAPING OR SCENIC
BEAUTIFICATION, HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND IF GOES ON.
POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THIS
AMENDMENT IS OPPOSED BY THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES, THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC
PRESERVATION, THE U.S. TRAVEL
ASSOCIATION.
THAT IS A NONPARTISAN LIST.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
THE WAY THIS AMENDMENT IS
DRAFTED, HISTORIC BRIDGES COULD
NEVER EVEN BE REPAIRED.
THE BROOKLYN BROOKLYN BRIDGE OR OTHER
HISTORIC BRIDGES COULD NOT BE
REPAIRED.
AND WE COULD NOT CONTROL
EROSION.
WE WOULD HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS.
I WOULD MOVE TO TABLE THE
McCAIN AMENDMENT -- I'M SORRY,
I WOULD MOVE TO TABLE THE
McCAIN AMENDMENT --
THAT
MOTION IS NOT IN ORDER WHILE
TIME REMAINS.
ALL RIGHT.
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA HAS ONE
MINUTE.
I'VE MADE THE
ARGUMENT THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE
UNNECESSARY.
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
BRIDGES THAT ARE DEFICIENT.
WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY WHERE
IT SHOULD BE, AND I HOPE THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WILL UNDERSTAND THAT
THESE THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN
APPROPRIATE SOME TIME AGO, BUT
IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WITH OUR
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, WE
NEED TO PUT THE MONEY IN THE
RIGHT PLACE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
I MOVE TO TABLE
THE McCAGE AMENDMENT NUMBER
739 AND I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
NAYS.
IS
THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE IS.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE: