Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. We could put a limitation of 15 minutes.

Mr. DOLE. I say to the Senator, we did not put a time limit because some might like to speak on their amendment. Even though they cannot offer amendments, they might like to suggest, ``I intend to offer this amendment,'' and they could get rid of some of the debate tomorrow, at least on this side. You would have a chance to rebut that, or whatever. But we did not put any time limit. We had hoped they would be constrained if they wanted to talk about their amendment, discuss it for a reasonable time, and then move on. I want to say one other thing about the 3 o'clock deadline. Obviously, if there is some unusual circumstance, somebody's plane was delayed, we have a bad storm or something, I think the two leaders would agree, after consultation with each other, whoever it was on either side would be permitted to offer his or her amendment or amendments.

Mr. DOLE. Yes.

Mr. DOLE. I would say, if I might respond to the Senator, if there was some unforeseen reason a Senator on either side was unable to send the amendment to the desk by 3 o'clock, I think we can probably work that out. But, it seems to me we have all had notice and if somebody got up at 3 o'clock and started sending five or six amendments to the desk, there could be an objection to setting aside any amendment.

Mr. DOLE. On page 2, second paragraph.

Mr. DOLE. Until 4 o'clock on Monday.

Mr. DOLE. I said I would withhold until the questions have been presented. I do now make the request.

Mr. DOLE. It says here if a Senator with an amendment sends it to the desk to be printed. It would take consent to send an amendment to the desk on behalf of someone else. That gets back to the very thing that the Senator from West Virginia objected to--somebody else, in effect, proxy management, or whatever, sending amendments to the desk. In fact, if you want to offer amendments tonight, send them to the desk, I do not see any reason that could not be done, as long as we are on the bill.

Mr. DOLE. That is correct.

Mr. DOLE. So there would not be any amendment pending. After the first one is offered, you would have to set that aside and simply send the amendment to the desk. I do not know how we decide which amendments we take up first. I think that is another question, whether the first amendment offered should be taken up first. I assume that would be the normal way to do it. Whoever offers their amendment first--many Democrats will not be here tomorrow. We will be here. That would advantage us. There has to be a way to work that out.

Mr. DOLE. Those were filed because of the cloture rule.

Mr. DOLE. After we have gone to third reading. Any further amendments would not be offered, but we would still have a period of debate. There is no limitation. We do not say 1, 2, 3, 4 hours. There may not be any. As I understand it, the Senator from West Virginia wants to protect his interests, in the event some amendment may have been adopted, or not offered, or not disposed of properly, to at least raise that point. Maybe other Senators on either side have the same position.

Mr. DOLE. As I understand, we would go to third reading, and there would be a period for debate.

Mr. DOLE. That is correct. We have made an exception for tomorrow morning. If somebody wanted to send an amendment and have it printed in the Record, that would satisfy the requirements of that section. But it is sending the amendment to the desk and first getting consent. That is why I think, as we have been in the past--it depends on the good faith of side. Somebody can say ``I object to setting the amendment aside,'' and he puts in a quorum call and waits until 3 o'clock and there is one amendment pending. I think that is one thing we cannot let happen. Second, I would hope that all these amendments are not offered. There are 60-some amendments. Any Senator could take as much time as he wanted after the amendment is offered. He can spend half a day on an amendment. We can be here 30 days. So this does not preclude--if it is in the judgment of the majority leader and since we are not acting in good faith--filing cloture. Nor does it preclude cloture if we agree to the request by the Senator from West Virginia that we go to third reading and have a period of debate, and if that period of debate goes on and on and on, then I assume no one objects to someone filing a cloture motion. I do not assume all these amendments will be offered. I think many may be worked out. Many may be there for some reason but will not be offered. But I am prepared to proceed in good faith. I am certain the Democratic leader is, also.

Mr. DOLE. Well, I assume if there is a pending amendment, they would have to get consent to set it aside and send their amendment to the desk, and that would be offered.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, let me say for the benefit of all Senators, we are going to go through this unanimous consent agreement. I think there will be a couple of questions asked. In fact, I wish to make a statement after the questions have been asked and each side is satisfied with the response, because it has to be in good faith. Otherwise, it is not going to work; there is not going to be another agreement. You would not give us one, and we would not give you one. If it is not in good faith, this may be the last agreement of its kind. I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be the only first-degree amendments in order to S. 1, and that they be subject to relevant second-degree amendments. I will not read that list, but there are 47 Democratic amendments, and 15 Republican amendments, a total of 62 amendments. I further ask unanimous consent that all first-degree amendments must be offered by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24. I further ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of the above-listed amendments, the bill be advanced to third reading. I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote scheduled for tomorrow and Saturday be vitiated, and that no votes occur throughout Friday's session of the Senate. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 20, and that there be a period for the transaction of routine morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business on Friday, it stand in recess until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, January 23, 1995, and that the Senate resume consideration of S. 1 at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 23. I ask unanimous consent that if a Senator with an amendment on the list sends the amendment to the desk to be printed on Friday, that be considered as having satisfied the 3 p.m. requirement for having amendments offered. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that no votes occur on Monday, January 23, prior to 4 p.m. That is the request. But before I put the request, I think there are some questions some might want to address.

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, let me indicate to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle there will be no further votes this evening. I have now submitted a modified agreement to the distinguished Democratic leader. If agreement is reached, then there will be no votes tomorrow but there will be a period for morning business tomorrow. There will be no amendments offered but there will be a period for debate, as long as you wish. If we do not reach an agreement, then I will move the Senate stand in recess until 9:30, and a cloture vote would occur at about 10:45-- between 10:30 and 10:45, and there would by additional votes tomorrow, probably four or five. So if we get the agreement, no votes, morning business only. If we do not get the agreement we will be in recess, cloture vote about 10:30, 10:45, with additional votes throughout the day. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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 move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, before the clerk starts the vote, let me indicate that I have been in discussion with the distinguished Democratic leader. We are now in the process of seeing if there can be some agreement with a slight modification suggested by the Senator from West Virginia. So I cannot say this is the last vote. If we are in tomorrow, we will come back at 9:30 in the morning and the first vote will be on cloture. Vote on the Motion to Lay on the Table the Committee Amendment on page 34, line 10

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to table the last remaining committee amendment found on page 34, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the motion was agreed to.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to table the committee amendment found on page 33, and ask for the yeas and nays.