Objection to Sexual Assault Related amendments

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending Levin amendment #2123 and Senator Gillibrand or her designee be recognized to offer the amendment #2099 (sexual assault) and that the amendment be subject to a relevant side-by-side amendment from Senators McCaskill and Ayotte, amendment #2170. He also asked consent that no second degree amendments be in order and each of the amendments be subject to 60 affirmative votes; that when the Senate resumes consideration of the bill on Wednesday, November 20^th, the time until 5:00pm be equally divided between the proponents and the opponents of the Gillibrand amendment; and that that at 5:00pm, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Gillibrand amendment #2099; that upon disposition of the Gillibrand amendment, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the McCaskill-Ayotte amendment #2170; that there be two minutes equally divided in between the votes; and no motions to recommit be in order during the consideration of the sexual assault amendments.

Senator Inhofe asked to modify the request that following disposition of the McCaskill/Ayotte amendment #2170, all pending amendments be withdrawn and the Republican manager or his designee be recognized to offer the next amendment in order to be followed by an amendment offered by the Majority side and the two sides continue to offer amendments in alternating fashion until all amendments are disposed of.

Senator Reid did not agree to the modification and Senator Inhofe objected to the original request.

Subsequently, Senator Reid re-filled the amendment tree.

-          Motion to recommit S.1197 with instructions (amendment #2305)

-          Reid amendment #2306 (date change) to the instructions

-          Reid amendment #2307 to amendment #2308 (date change)

Senator Reid expressed his hope that Senators will come to the floor tomorrow to debate the sexual assault issue so that we can set up a vote tomorrow afternoon.

The Senate is in a period of morning business for debate only until 7:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.