Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. The Senator from Illinois has lost the floor.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, the Senator may yield for a question but not for debate.

Mr. DOLE. For a question.

Mr. DOLE. If the Senator will yield, why not offer the amendment? We have been here almost 2 hours on this measure and nothing has happened except for a lot of discussion. And if the Senators are going to offer amendments, let us offer amendments. If Senators do not mind disaccommodating colleagues on that side, I am not going anywhere this weekend, so I will be here all weekend. It is up to Senators. If the President does not have any influence with either one of his colleagues on that side, that is his problem. But we would like to complete the bill because the President would like to have it done. And I wish to make the best effort I can on behalf of the President, but if I am thwarted by members of his own party, I am not going to spend a lot of time trying to help the President. Maybe he ought to pick up the phone and make a couple of phone calls. But in any event, if we offer the amendments, as the Senator from West Virginia said, we can have a vote. It will be an amendment vote. And then we will see where we are. I do not know how many Members are left. Many Members had to leave early to make plane reservations. We are still enough here to do business. We are prepared to do business. Let us do business.

Mr. DOLE. I just say to the Senator from Minnesota, I am not going to be here all day while he is doing whatever he is doing. He has every right to do that, but I have listened very carefully to the two managers of the appropriations bill and I think they are trying to be helpful here, saying they are going to have less money if this is delayed. The President wants this bill, so I ought to be happy if he does not get it, I assume. That would be the conventional wisdom around this town. He says he wants it. He has written a letter. He sent up a statement. He has added $700 and some million he said he wanted to add for the very programs that have been addressed by the two Senators. But it is a little late in the day for game playing. If the Senator is going to offer amendments, offer amendments. If not, as soon as I get the floor, this bill is finished. It is finished. And it will not be brought up again until there is consent to bring it up without amendment and you explain to the people in Oklahoma City and you explain to the people in California and you explain to the people in Minnesota how you lost money on low-income home energy assistance because you would not let this bill pass. You have every right to object. You are doing a good job of it. That is your right. But I do not intend to tie up the entire Senate here the rest of the afternoon while somebody out here is making whatever argument they want to make. We will bring the bill back as soon as the administration convinces the Senators from Illinois and Minnesota that this is a good bill. If the Democratic President cannot convince the Democrats, certainly we cannot convince the Democrats. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, will the call for the regular order return the regulatory reform bill?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield further for a parliamentary inquiry?

Mr. DOLE. We have been on this 2\1/2\ hours. The Senator could have read the dictionary in 2\1/2\ hours.

Mr. DOLE. When are you going to have the amendment? That is what I would like to find out.

Mr. DOLE. Will the Senator yield on that point?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I also understand we will not be able to get unanimous consent that there be no amendments to the bill, so I will not make that request. I am advised that the managers are here. We would like to proceed as quickly as possible. If there are amendments we hope the amendments will be offered with very little debate. Certainly people have a right to offer amendments. We discourage amendments. I hope that those who want this bill passed--which will save $9.2 billion and is supported by President Clinton--will join together in defeating any amendments or tabling any amendments that may be offered. I know there are a number of absent Senators on each side of the aisle. I must say they were never told there would be no votes today, so they left at their own risk. In any event, I think we are prepared to proceed on the bill.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we turn to consideration of H.R. 1944.

Mr. DOLE. I call for the regular order.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I have been discussing H.R. 1944 with the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle. I understand now I have consent to turn to the consideration of H.R. 1944.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I understand the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is the same as in the vetoed bill. There has not been any change in that. I do not know where the $400 million figure came from. I want to include in the Record at this point a statement of administration policy, this is the Clinton administration policy, that supports H.R. 1944 as it passed the House: H.R. 1944 provides an important balance between deficit reduction and providing funds to meet emergency needs. This legislation provides essential funding for FEMA Disaster Relief, for the Federal response to the bombing in Oklahoma City, for increased anti-terrorism efforts, and for providing debt relief to Jordan in order to contribute to further progress toward a Middle East peace settlement. H.R. 1944 reduces Federal spending by $9 billion. I think the administration statement is in accord with the thinking of most individuals. This matter did pass the House last night. As I understand it, there has been change in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program since the bill passed the Senate.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I understand we have morning business until 10:30, at which time I will ask consent that we turn to H.R. 1944, the rescissions bill, and that no amendments be in order; there be 10 minutes for debate to be equally divided in the usual form; and that following the conclusion or yielding back of time, the bill be advanced to third reading and passed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. I will make that request at 10:30. I hope we can have the cooperation of our colleagues. This is something the White House wants. We have a statement from the administration. This contains the money for the Oklahoma City disaster. It contains money for the earthquakes in California. And if my colleagues on the other side do not want to pass it, that is up to them. We have had a lot of negotiation on the rescissions package. The President vetoed it, and we went back and tried to accommodate some of the President's concerns. Now I am advised at this last moment there may be some other political efforts made to delay the bill or frustrate the will of the majority. I hope that at 10:30 sharp we can take up the bill under the previous considerations. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations, executive calendar nomination numbers 178 through 183, and 206, 207, 208, and 210 through 231.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 119, S. 267.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered and agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senate proceed to immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 148, submitted earlier today by Senator Helms.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered and deemed read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill appear at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of calendar No. 112, S. 677.