Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. If the Senator will yield.

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

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I indicated to the Senator from Minnesota that we have no desire to quickly move to table the amendment. We would like to do the nomination of Robert Rubin, if we could, this evening. We would like to accommodate both the Senator from Minnesota and the Secretary-to-be Rubin. So hopefully we can work it out and still be out of here by 7 o'clock.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I do not know quite what this amendment does. Well, it does not do anything; that is what it does. I have been a member of the Nutrition Committee for years. I worked with Senator McGovern from South Dakota. We repealed the requirements of the food stamp law that require people to put up money, and things of that kind. It may have been a mistake. We thought we were doing the right thing. We worked a lot on the nutrition and school lunch programs and WIC programs. I do not know that we can pass laws here that say--I do not know who will count these people every day, or every week, or every month. We do not know, if the law is passed, what the economy is going to be. This all ought to be discussed when we have the budget before us. We are talking about dollars here, because there is no way we are going to be able to tell, if the law passes, whether somebody would be hungry in America or one more might be hungry. That is the import of this, even though it is a sense-of-the-Senate resolution. It is not binding. We are trying to cover Congress here with all the laws we inflict on everybody else in America. We have had a dozen amendments that have nothing to do with that at all. The American people want us to be an example, not part of the problem. We will be an example if we cover ourselves with laws that we inflict on small businessmen and women in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Vermont, Pennsylvania, or wherever it may be. The House did this in 20 minutes, as I said. This is our 4th day on this bill because of all of these extraneous amendments. I understand that this is an opportunity to offer a lot of amendments and make the Republicans look heartless and cold, and all this. This is not going to work. The American people want us to cover ourselves. Every day we wait is another day it is not going to happen. I will be just, I hope, as diligent as the Senator from Minnesota when it comes to children's programs or nutrition programs. For that reason, I will move to table the amendment. We want to finish this bill quickly. We have agreed that at 6:15, we could either vote up or down or on a motion in relation to the amendment. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, the pending business is the Wellstone amendment?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we lay aside the Ford amendment.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, now the pending amendment is the Wellstone amendment?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I do not want to get into a quarrel with my good friend from Minnesota. I indicated on the Senate floor that there will be gift ban legislation, as well as lobbying reform legislation. I do not know precisely the date. I would hope that the majority leader, in effect, gives his word to our colleagues; or the minority leader gives his word to our colleagues on this side of the aisle, and that they would accept that in good faith. I just think that this sense-of-the-Senate amendment does not add anything. We believe there should be gift ban legislation. We may want to make some changes. We are in the process of looking at lobbying reform, gift ban. I would hope that my colleague from Minnesota would not press the amendment. If he insists, I would have no alternative but to move to table the amendment. I indicated last week, and I think the Senator from Kentucky, Senator McConnell, indicated we will be doing perhaps not precisely what the Senator from Minnesota may wish, but if not, he can amend it when it comes to the floor. I wish he would at least express enough confidence in us in the first week that we do keep our word. If I fail to do that, I certainly would not quarrel with coming back again with another amendment. I do not see any real purpose in pursuing this. In the interest of time, if the Senator persists in the amendment, I move to table and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we can vote at 6:10.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent at 6:15 we vote on the amendment.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I withhold my request.

Mr. DOLE. I would just like to have 2 or 3 minutes.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Minnesota. Again, it is our intent to try to move as quickly as we can. I am not certain about any date. I am not certain it will be May 31. It could be before, maybe after May 31. It does seem to me that we should be given that opportunity. If we do not produce something around May 31, obviously, the Senator from Minnesota and a number of others, some on this side, would be offering maybe the same amendment. In view of the fact that we have not had any hearings on it this year, we have new Members of the Senate, I think they will all support a gift ban. I might add, I would rather be given some latitude in setting the agenda and setting when we might schedule this for debate. Therefore, I move to table the amendment and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I have known Bob Rubin for many years. He is a man of honesty and integrity who is certainly qualified to be Treasury Secretary. Mr. Rubin has an excellent background as a lawyer, an investment banker, and most recently as the assistant to the President for economic policy. His reputation on Wall Street, and more recently here in Washington, DC portrays a man who is not only hard-working and capable--but an effective consensus builder. As we heard this morning in the Senate Finance Committee hearing, Bob Rubin is rare in that he has shown humility, and his self-effacing attitude toward getting things done has earned the respect of many of us on Capitol Hill. If his frank and candid performance at the Senate Finance Committee is any indication of how he will serve as the Secretary of the Treasury, I believe that the U.S. Congress will have a Secretary who is not only capable, but will listen to us and engage in dialog that will be honest and fair. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this nomination.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, just for the information of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, leaders' time has been reserved and it will be reserved or used.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, following that, there is to be morning business until 10 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for not to exceed 5 minutes each. At 10 a.m. we will resume consideration of S. 2, the congressional coverage bill, and under a previous unanimous-consent agreement, at 2:15 today the Senate will proceed to a 15-minute rollcall vote on the McConnell second-degree amendment to the Ford amendment regarding frequent flier mileage. I just say to my colleagues, just to recap, this is the fourth day in the Senate we have been on a bill that passed the House in 20 minutes by a vote of 429 to 0. I would not want to rush anything too much over here, but it seems to me that after 4 days we ought to be prepared to bring this matter to a conclusion, so that tomorrow we can start on unfunded mandates, which is very, very important legislation with strong bipartisan support, supported by Governors, mayors, county commissioners, and State legislators. And I hope that we will complete action on that bill by Friday. In fact, so far we have moved at a rather leisurely pace. We have not pushed anybody. But it seems to me that we will complete action on this bill tonight, either 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 8 o'clock, 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock--whenever, however long it may take. And then tomorrow we will start the debate on unfunded mandates. Hopefully, we could have some agreement. I know it is a very, very important bill, but I know there are very legitimate concerns that Members on each side of the aisle have and there are very legitimate amendments that have to be discussed. So I do not want to downplay the fact that there are differences. But I hope we could come together, work out a schedule or an agenda so the amendments could be offered, debated at length if necessary, but then have the votes and complete action sometime early on Friday. So I urge my colleagues to cooperate in every way they can. But I must say, I think in these first 3 months we may have to extend, at least sometimes, how long we might be around here in the evening. Hopefully we will get back on a family-friendly schedule sometime after the Easter recess. The Senate will be in recess today between the hours of 12:30 and 2:15 for our weekly policy luncheon. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, this morning I had the privilege of attending the 76th annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation in St. Louis, MO. As my colleagues know, the American Farm Bureau is the largest farm organization in America, with over 4.4 million members nationwide. While in St. Louis, I met with both Kansas and American Farm Bureau members as they discussed issues of importance to agriculture and to all Americans. The theme of this year's meeting is ``The Spirit Grows.'' I believe that their theme reflects the spirit we have seen in American during the last few months. A growing spirit to change America and to bring common sense back to Government. Like most Americans, members of the American Farm Bureau want change. In his opening remarks, Farm Bureau President Dean Kleckner listed seven Farm Bureau goals--goals which many of us here in the Senate share. These include adopting a balanced budget amendment, passing a line-item veto, reducing the capital gains tax, increasing the estate tax exemption, implementing legislation requiring risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis, limiting unfunded mandates, and strengthening private property rights. Mr. President, I would encourage my colleagues to read the full text of Mr. Kleckner's speech and to take to heart some of the points he makes. I ask unanimous consent that the text of Mr. Kleckner's speech be included in the Record.

Mr. DOLE

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

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

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration, and I ask that the clerk read the resolution.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if the Democratic leader has nothing further at this time, I move that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I will just say before we adjourn just for the information of all Senators that there will be no rollcall votes during Monday's session of the Senate. However, Senators wishing to offer amendments--I understand some have already agreed to offer amendments--should certainly do so. We will try to meet the Tuesday deadline.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it stand in adjournment until 2 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 1995. I further ask unanimous consent that following the prayer the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, that the call of the calendar be dispensed with, that no resolutions come over under the rule, and that the morning hour be deemed to have expired. I further ask unanimous consent that following the two leaders there be a period for morning business not to exceed 90 minutes with Senators permitted to speak therein for no more than 10 minutes each. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 2 under the terms of the previous consent agreement.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be the only remaining first-degree amendments, to be subject to relevant second-degree amendments. Amendments to S. 2 Bryan: Congressional pensions. Byrd: Relevant. Feinstein: (1) Campaign spending reform; (2) campaign spending reform; (3) campaign spending reform; and (4) campaign spending reform. Ford: (1) Frequent Fliers Miles--amdt. No. 4; and (2) Relevant. Glenn: Manager's amendment. Graham: Re: amendment drafting. Kerry: (1) Leadership PACs; and (2) campaign fund conversion personal use. Lautenberg: Relevant. Leahy: Employment rights. Levin: Relevant. Reid: Relevant. Wellstone: (1) Gift ban; (2) gift ban; (3) campaign finance; (4) campaign finance; (5) campaign finance; (6) health care; (7) relevant; and (8) relevant. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that all amendments must be offered and disposed of by the close of business Tuesday, January 10, with the exception of the Bryan amendment. I further ask unanimous consent that, with respect to the Bryan amendment, if a motion to table is not agreed to, the amendment be subject to unlimited debate and amendments and not under the restrictions of the Tuesday deadline. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Byrd be recognized for general debate for not to exceed 45 minutes prior to final passage of the bill.