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Roll Call Vote on Graham motion to table Reid motion to commit / Graham parliamentary inquiries

At 1:57pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Graham motion to table the Reid motion to commit S.1982 (majority vote threshold);

Not Tabled: 44-52

We expect a total of 3 roll call votes during this series of votes.

Next:

-          Sanders motion to waive all applicable Budget points of order (60-affirmative vote threshold)

(2 minutes for debate equally divided)

-          Confirmation of Calendar #561, Michael L. Connor, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Secretary of Interior (majority vote threshold)

Prior to the vote, Senator Graham asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending motion so that he may offer amendment #2752 (substitute with Iran Sanctions) to S.1982, Comprehensive Veterans bill.

Senator Sanders said this and ultimately objected: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. I DO

FIND IT INTERESTING THAT IN THE MIDST OF THIS IMPORTANT DEBATE

ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS, MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE

ON THE FLOOR AND HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT

VETERANS. THIS BILL IS NOT ABOUT BENGHAZI. THIS VETERANS BILL

IS NOT ABOUT IRAN SANCTIONS. IT IS NOT ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON.

IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS. SO SENATOR

BURR'S BILL DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR AS FAR AS WE NEED TO GO

IN TERMS OF VETERANS ISSUES. IT BRINGS THE IRAN SANCTIONS

ISSUES INTO A DEBATE WHERE IT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT INTO. I

OBJECT.

Senator Graham then made a parliamentary inquiry and asked if it is correct that no senator is permitted to offer an amendment to this bill while the majority leader's amendments and motions are pending.

The Chair said that is correct.

He then made a further parliamentary inquiry and asked if a motion to table the Reid motion to commit is successful, would there be an opportunity to offer a motion to commit the bill to the veterans committee, to be reported back as a fully amendable bill with the Iran Sanctions language included?

The Chair stated that there would be an opportunity for a senator to offer another motion to recommit with instructions to which the senator's amendment could be offered.