Senator Stabenow urges Senate to fund green collar jobs and invest in the new green economy

[Turborama]

Run time: 08:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRyuYAPyo0   Posted on YouTube: February 05, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 09, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 419

 
Debbie Stabenow is going in my list of top 5 favorite senators!

[roody]

1. Who is the Mr. President she keeps addressing? Reid?

[SanchoPanza]

2. Whoever is delegated as the Presiding Officer

The task is delegated by the office of the President pro tempore. It's usually given to freshman Senators so they can familarize themselves with Senate rules, especially at the beginning of a new term. It's their responsibility to maintain order, issue procedural rulings (almost always with the help of the parliamentarian), and has the power to discipline members who violate the rules of debate. It's basically the Senate version of the Speaker of the House.

I believe Kay Hagan was the Presiding Officer at some point during the stimulus debate, but the position can shift around several times in a single session. It's my understanding that the Majority Leader or the Majority Whip rarely, if ever, serve in this capacity as they have other duties to attend to while the Senate is in session. So Reid or Durbin probably aren't who she's addressing.