Kyl Criticizes Senate Democrats for Unprecedented -ËœAffront to Institution-

˜No Reasonable Justification for Shutting Down Senate¦ Certainly Not Partisan Bitterness WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, on November 1, expressed disappointment in the Senate Democratic Leadership for stopping the Senate from debating the Deficit Reduction bill by resorting to the unprecedented tactic of forcing a closed session, ostensibly to force the Intelligence Committee to take up a second investigation of pre-Iraq war intelligence. Right now my constituents are looking for Congress to continue the work of cutting spending to reduce the deficit and help offset the costs of Hurricane Katrina, as we were attempting to do on the Senate floor, Kyl said. The Democratic leaderships decision to spring this unprecedented parliamentary stunt without any warning was a violation of basic common courtesy and comity, but much more importantly, its an affront to the institution of the Senate and our duty to the American people to conduct the nations business openly and expeditiously. Ten years ago Republicans learned a painful lesson about voters reaction to the perception that one party essentially shut down the government for petty reasons, Kyl added. Senate Democrats appear to have gotten so wrapped up in partisan bitterness that theyve forgotten the experience. Theres no remotely reasonable justification for shutting down the Senate right now, certainly not to re-fight a debate that should have been settled by the 2004 election. Kyl sits on the senate Judiciary and Finance committees, which recently moved to cut federal spending under the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. The Finance Committee approved legislation that reduces Medicare spending by more than $10 billion, mostly through changes in management, without reducing anyones benefits, including the new prescription drug program. Earlier, the Judiciary Committee saved $300 million over 5 years by adjusting immigration visa schedules and increasing fee amounts for certain employment-based visas.