Establishing the Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays

Floor Speech

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Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I had hoped to be able to speak at greater length than 3 minutes this afternoon, but the message that Senator Coburn has been delivering is so incredibly important. I want to join Senator Kerry's remarks in thanking him for being one who has been working to find not a deal but to find a solution to the issues we face today.

As we have deliberated all day long, there has been a lot of finger-pointing, a lot of blame. As the Senator from Massachusetts has noted, a lot of times it seems as if the comments are just going past one another rather than directed in a purposeful way that would actually make a difference to this debate.

We started out this morning with messages from the leader arguing over who was filibustering. We have all talked about the need to see compromise, and then we go on to say why we can't compromise. What we need to be working toward is a solution to the problem as opposed to attempting to cobble together a deal at the last moment that will gain those necessary votes.

The one thing I would hope we are all working toward is to avoid the default we all fear. We have all been listening to our constituents calling us this weekend. As we read our e-mails, as we talk to friends and neighbors, the concern is very real. One thing we have managed to do on a bipartisan basis in this Congress over the past few days is to incite fear in the American public, to make our constituents angry, frustrated, and mad. Well, misery loves company. We are angry, frustrated, and mad here. But I would like to suggest, as the hours wind down, we come together as a body in the Senate and the House to find that compromise.

Senator Isakson stood on the floor earlier this afternoon and spoke of the contours of a proposal that worked to integrate the good ideas of several different Members--of Senator Reid, of Speaker Boehner, and of the minority leader, Senator McConnell. We should be working to find those areas where we agree because those areas are, in fact, in place.

I am hopeful, Mr. President, as the majority leader comes back in from his meetings he will have some encouraging news for us as we work through these last hours.

I would like to gain some additional time later on this evening to speak more in detail, but I see the majority leader before us waiting to speak.

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