Why is c-span 2 showing a shot of the senate with nothing going on?

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

I keep thinking a debate will take place but for 30 minutes its been a shot of an empty senate floor.

[eleny]

1. Quorum Call

Lower right corner of the screen has that information.

[Baikonour]

2. Maybe they're trying to make a point.

[ashling]

3. Because nothing is going on?

just a guess.

:rofl:

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

4. aren't you the sarcastic one. nt

[ashling]

5. Hey, it's an attitude ....

:shrug:

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

6. lol.

:D you're silly.

[ashling]

8. That's what my daughter says

Lori ??

:rofl:

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

9. omg...

how'd you know :o

[TayTay]

7. In order to get a cloture vote and keep the bill on time

From the Congressional Research Service http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%26*2%3C4QLS%3E%0A">report on cloture:

"There are several stages to the process of invoking cloture.

• First, at least 16 Senators sign a cloture motion (also called a cloture petition)
  that states: “We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of
  Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, hereby move to bring to a close
  the debate upon .”
  
• To present a cloture motion, a Senator may interrupt another Senator who is
  speaking. When the motion is presented, the clerk reads it.
  
• The cloture motion then lies over until the second calendar day on which the
  Senate is in session. For example, if the motion is filed on Monday, it lies over
  until Wednesday, assuming the Senate is in session daily. If the motion is filed on
  Friday, it lies over until Tuesday unless the Senate was in session on Saturday or
  Sunday.
  
• The Senate votes on the cloture motion one hour after it convenes on the second
  calendar day after the cloture motion was filed, and after a quorum call has
  established the presence of a quorum. The time for the cloture vote may be
  changed by unanimous consent, and the required quorum call is routinely
  waived.
  
• The presiding officer presents the cloture motion to the Senate for a rollcall vote
  at the time required by Rule XXII, even if the Senate had been considering other
  business between the time the cloture motion was filed and the time for voting on
  the motion arrives.
  
• The majority required to invoke cloture is three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen
  and sworn, or 60 votes if there are no vacancies in the Senate’s membership.
  However, invoking cloture on a measure or motion to amend the Senate’s rules
  requires the votes of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting, or 67 votes if
  all 100 Senators vote.

This is in accordance with Rule 22 (XXII) of the http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=RulesOfSenate.View&Rule_id=b53f00ae-eaf3-4382-a827-097360cb1c93&CFID=5239000&CFTOKEN=74671706">Standing Rules of the Senate. (The CRS report is easier to read than the Standing Rules of the Senate, imho.)