Senator Durbin asked to modify Senator Paul's request so that it would be a vote on the amendment with a Majority threshold.
Senator Paul objected to the modification and Senator Durbin objected to Senator Paul's original request.
Senator Paul then asked consent that a Balanced Budget amendment be in order. Senator Durbin objected.
The unofficial transcript is below.
16:18:03 NSP} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. PAUL: THE PRESIDENT HAS REFUSED TO TAKE OFF THE TABLE THE
FACT THAT WE WOULD GAULT DWAWLT ON OUR DEBT. THAT'S
IRRESPONSIBILITY AND WITHOUT A DOUBT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD COME
FORTH AND SAY HE WILL PAY THE INTEREST ON THE DEBT. ON OUR SIDE
WE'VE BEEN WILLING TO COMPROMISE ALL ALONG. WE'VE BEEN OFFERING
PLANS. WE PASSED TWO PLANS IN THE HOUSE. NOW WE HAVE A PLAN
BEFORE US, A DEMOCRAT PLAN TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, AND THERE
ARE SOME OF US WHO WOULD VOTE FOR THIS DEMOCRAT PLAN WHO MIGHT
REQUIRE SOME AMENDMENTS OR SOME COMPROMISE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
{16:18:34} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
SOME INPUT FROM OUR SIDE. AND YET EVEN THOUGH THIS BILL WAS
INTRODUCED YESTERDAY AND REPUBLICANS SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR
IT, THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOW FILIBUSTERING THEIR OWN BILL. WHAT'S
FUNNY, THEY FILIBUSTER THEIR OWN BILL AND THEN POINT FINGERS
AND SAY WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THINGS. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TRY TO
MOVE THINGS FORWARD AND SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO REACH A
COMPROMISE BEFORE THE DEADLINE COMES, I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE VOTE ON THE PENDING CLOTURE MOTION OCCUR
IMMEDIATELY OR AS SOON AS
{16:19:07} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
POSSIBLE 5:00 P.M. TODAY.
{16:19:10 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE GENTLEMANFROM ILLINOIS.
{16:19:12 NSP} (MR. DURBIN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. DURBIN: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. UNDER THE FILIBUSTER
RULES OF THE SENATE, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF 60 VOTES FOR
CLOTURE. WE HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A TIMELY
VOTE ON THIS PENDING AMENDMENT, A MAJORITY VOTE, THE SAME AS
THE VOTE THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER HAD IN THE HOUSE, AND I WOULD
OBJECT UNLESS THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY WANTS TO AMEND HIS
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE A
UNANIMOUS CONSENT WHICH I HAVE SPELLED OUT HERE IN DETAIL IF
HE'D LIKE ME TO PRESENT IT.
{16:19:45 NSP} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. PAUL: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, I WOULD REMIND THE
SENATOR THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE. OUR FOUNDING FATHERS GAVE GREAT POWER AND LEEWAY TO THE
SENATE. WE WERE MEANT TO BE A CHECK AND A BALANCE AGAINST
UNBRIDLED ENTHUSIASM SOMETIMES FROM ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER, AND
SO I WOULD OBJECT TO THAT MOTION.
{16:20:07 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE ORIGINAL
REQUEST?
{16:20:09 NSP} (MR. DURBIN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. DURBIN: OBJECT.
{16:20:13 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD.
{16:20:15 NSP} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. PAUL: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I BE
ALLOWED TO PRESENT AN AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE REID BILL, AND UNDER THIS AMENDMENT WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IS I HAVE AT LEAST 10 REPUBLICANS WHO WILL VOTE FOR THE
HARRY REID BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW A COMPROMISE, WHICH WOULD
ALLOW THE DEBT CEILING TO RISE. I KNOW THE PRESIDENT IS WORRIED
ABOUT HAVING CAMPAIGN TIME. HE'S WORRIED ABOUT GETTING BACK OUT
AND DOING SOME FUNDRAISERS. HE DOESN'T WANT TO CONSIDER THE
DEBT CEILING AGAIN BEFORE HIS ELECTION OR HIS RE-ELECTION
CAMPAIGN. SO THIS AMENDMENT THAT I WOULD OFFER WOULD ALLOW US
{16:20:45} (MR. PAUL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
TO MOVE FORWARD IN A BIPARTISAN WAY. ALL REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING
FOR IS THAT WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET GRADUALLY OVER A SEVEN TO
EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD. WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WHAT DO AND I'M ASKING
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PRESENT IS AN AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE WILL
RAISE THE DEBT CEILING CONTINGENT UPON BADGE OF A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT. BY ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I BE ALLOWED TO
PRESENT THIS AMENDMENT TO THE REID BILL.
{16:21:13 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
{16:21:15 NSP} (MR. DURBIN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. DURBIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I OBJECT.