Farm Disaster bill on CSPAN2 - Conrad threatening to stop Senate business

[Oreo]

Is anybody else listening/watching this? I couldn't find any posts about it but big things are happening.

I read something about it yesterday where Kent Conrad (ND) was threatening to shut down the Senate over it. From what I gather, he was promised it would be taken up today but Frist is trying to skip it. He's now saying he has no choice now but to stop any more of the Senate's business from proceeding.

http://conrad.senate.gov/|Kent Conrad> is ready to stop the Senate indefinitely in order to help his constituents and farmers nationwide.
You can watch CSPAN2 http://www.cspan.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2&ShowVidDays=30&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30|here>

Here is the DU link from yesterday from longship.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2720288

Paraphrasing:
"This leaves me with no alternative but to object to going to other business. I will do so repeatedly if necessary"

[krispos42]

1. CSPAN2 says it's a quorum call n/t

[eleny]

2. Quorum Call now

So I guess it's heating up.

[Oreo]

3. CSPAN2 just cut away

This could get very interesting

Currently holding a Quorum Call

quorum call - A call of the roll to establish whether a quorum is present. If any Senator "suggests the absence of a quorum," the Presiding Officer must direct the roll to be called. Often, a quorum call is terminated by unanimous consent before completion, which permits the Senate to use the quorum call to obtain a brief delay to work out some difficulty or await a Senator's arrival.

From the Senate glossary for those of you that are less wonky than others ;)
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/quorum_call.htm


More info from yesterday here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061115/pl_nm/food_congress_disaster_dc
This story was written before Conrad just said he was going to shut down the Senate.

They're reading 157 names of troops that were killed now

[Oreo]

4. They're back

Lautenberg up to talk about war... thanked Conrad for letting him speak.

Are they going to filibuster?

[Oreo]

5. Hello people? I think Lautenberg is starting a filibuster for Conrad

He's reading names of 157 troops that were killed in Iraq

[Deb]

6. thanks for the heads up

Yes, Frist did promise Conrad that his bill would be brought up. Later, I seem to remember a GOP Sen. asked Frist if his bill also be considered, Frist refused. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Wish I could remember the details but it did make me think Frist probably ticked off one of his own party members.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

7. He's asking right now to move to the Ag bill

and the chairman is refusing.

I guess the rethugs are complete liars because they promised to go to the Ag bill today.

Fuckers.

I hope the Dems remind them of this after Jan.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

8. Dorgan - "If we aren't doing anything...

why don't we go to the Ag bill and get something done".

[Oreo]

9. Asked to debate farm appropriations bill

and was objected to twice.

[Vinca]

10. The really sorry part is that they have 70 votes lined up in favor

of this bill. It will pass in a heartbeat if the Nazis ever allow it to come to the floor.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

11. DeWine just took the floor

To pay tribute to a dead Marine.

It's his fault the Marine was killed, supporting a lie that got us into a stupid occupation.