Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I ask unanimous consent that this cloture vote, if necessary, occur at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, and the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we will have morning business until the hour of 3 p.m., with Senators to speak for up to 5 minutes each. Senator Daschle, or his designee, is in control of the first 90 minutes; Senator Coverdell, or his designee, is in control of the next 90 minutes. If there are no requests for morning business, then we may stand in recess during part of that period until 3 o'clock. At 3 o'clock, we will resume consideration of H.R. 2937. We will have no rollcall votes. There will be a cloture vote on H.R. 2937, the White House Travel Office legislation at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Under the provisions of rule XXII, Senators have until 1 p.m. today to file first-degree amendments to H.R. 2937. Hopefully, we can complete action on the Travel Office bill on Tuesday. Other items possible for consideration this week, if we can work them out, are: Amtrak authorization; the firefighters age discrimination bill; and the balanced budget constitutional amendment. I hope we might be able to pass the balanced budget constitutional amendment early this week or next week. It is supported by 80 percent of the American people. We addressed some of the concerns that some of my colleagues who voted against the amendment expressed last year about protecting Social Security. We believe we will have language that should satisfy real concerns--if somebody is playing games, we will not satisfy them--if they have real concerns. We are also concerned about protecting Social Security. In our balanced budget, which we sent to the President, which he vetoed, we did not touch Social Security. We believe we can overcome some of the objections that some have if they are real concerns. Otherwise, we will not be able to do that. Tomorrow is tax freedom day. That is when people can take a break from taxes. Starting on the 8th of May, they start working for themselves instead of the governments who impose taxes. It will be a good day to pass the gas tax repeal. It seems to me it might have a nice ring to it. Mr. President, 4.3 cents may not seem like a lot per gallon, but it adds up to about $4.8 billion a year, and it does not go into any fund to build highways. It goes into what we call deficit reduction, which has only been done one other time. That was on a very temporary basis between 1990 and 1993, when 2.5 cents went into tax reduction. That was necessary to get an agreement on the 1993 budget. Normally, gas taxes are used for highways, bridges, and other structures, and mass transit to help improve travel conditions for people to make the highways safer, mass transit safer. But this gas tax by President Clinton for deficit reduction is permanent. We think it should be repealed. We can find ways to cut spending or some other way to offset it if we are not going to add to the deficit. We think we can do that. There is a bill at the desk, Calendar No. 374, H.R. 2337, the taxpayer bill of rights. Sometime before the day is out, I will ask consent that we be able to take up that bill and offer one amendment-- that would be the gas tax repeal--and send it back to the House. I am certain they will pass it very quickly. As I understand, there is bipartisan support now for repealing the gas tax. Maybe we can accomplish it on that revenue bill. I have also asked Senator Lott and Senator Lott has reported to me he had a good discussion on Friday with Senator Daschle with reference to scheduling the minimum wage. We believe we have made a fair proposal. We hope it might be accepted. Otherwise, I think the matter people are really concerned about in America is a balanced budget and whether we have the will to amend or at least send a constitutional amendment to the States and see if three-fourths of the States will ratify it. If that happens, the constitutional amendment, if it is ratified, of course, becomes part of the Constitution. Then we will have more discipline in the Congress when it comes to spending taxpayers' money and when it comes to ordering priorities. Beyond that, anything else that should occur, we will make an announcement on the Senate floor this afternoon. I yield the floor.

Mr. DOLE

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

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I now ask unanimous consent there be a period for the transaction of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes each.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, for the information of all of my colleagues, we will resume consideration of the White House Travel Office legislation tomorrow morning. There will be a cloture vote at 2:15 on that measure, and under the rules of cloture, second-degree amendments must be filed with the clerk by 12:30 on Tuesday. It is hoped the Senate could dispose of the White House Travel Office bill by the close of business Tuesday. Rollcall votes could therefore be expected throughout Tuesday's session of the Senate. As I understand it, there really is no objection to the underlying bill, the travel office bill, the reimbursement to Billy Dale and others, and there should not be any objection. I guess the objection is we filled up the tree, so to speak, and other additional amendments cannot be offered. Tomorrow I will submit to the Democratic leader, my colleague, Senator Daschle, a proposal on gas tax. Tomorrow is tax freedom day. It will be a great day to send a message, a small message but a message to the American taxpayers that we are going to relieve at least some of their burden. It is about a $5 billion per year burden, a 4.3-cent gas tax which was made permanent in 1993 in the Clinton tax increase bill, which amounted to $265 billion. So we hope we might get consent to take up the gas tax, attach it to the taxpayers bill of rights, which is pending at the desk, pass it with one amendment, send it to the House and the House will take action. We are now working on how we pay for the repeal of the tax. Obviously we want to pay for it. We are not going to add to the deficit. I will visit with the Democratic leader about that tomorrow and also offer a proposal on minimum wage, where we might take up the minimum wage, under what conditions, so that we might proceed with the business of the Senate and not have to file cloture on every bill. I know the Democrats feel strongly about their issues. We feel strongly about some of ours. So, hopefully, we can resolve these by agreement. If not, we will just have to see what happens.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent when the Senate completes its business today it stand in adjournment until the hour of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7; further, that immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be deemed approved to date, no resolutions come over under the rule, the call of the calendar be dispensed with, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, and there then be a period for morning business until the hour of 10:30 a.m., with Senators to speak for up to 5 minutes each with the following Senators to speak for the designated times: Senator Hutchison, 60 minutes; Senator Murkowski, 15 minutes; Senator Burns, 5 minutes. I further ask that immediately following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 2937.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess between the hours of 12:30 and 2:15 p.m. tomorrow for the weekly policy conferences to meet.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I send a substitute amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DOLE. I now send an amendment to the desk to the motion.

Mr. DOLE. I ask that reading of the amendment be dispensed with, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate turn to the consideration of H.R. 2937 regarding the White House Travel Office.

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

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk to the substitute.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. DOLE. I will just say for the information of all Senators, the cloture vote on the White House Travel Office bill will occur on Tuesday, May 7. I ask unanimous consent the cloture vote occur at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, and the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

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, much has been reported lately about the situation facing America's farmers and ranchers. Carryover stocks for some grains are at their lowest levels since the 1940's--causing record high grain prices. I think, in fact, that wheat is up to about $8 a bushel. There is only one problem. In our State, nobody has very much wheat. In fact, some have none at all. The $8 price is good, but it does not really reflect that it is going to be benefiting very many producers in the State of Kansas and other States in the Midwest. Meanwhile, cattle supplies are at a 10-year high causing extremely low cattle prices. Last year, the average FED steer sold for $80 per hundredweight, while today's bids are at $55 per hundredweight. I have always argued the best farm policy is the marketplace. If farmers received a fair price for their products, they would not need any Federal dollars. This year, Congress passed a farm bill which finally took the Government out of the farming and ranching business. The Federal Agricultural Improvement Act significantly reduces the Government's role in pricing, marketing, and planting decisions of farmers and ranchers. No longer will the Government tell farmers what and how much to plant. Three days ago, the President held a meeting to discuss the situation now facing the cattle industry. Unfortunately, the Clinton administration has helped contribute to the troubles of cattle ranchers. While Mother Nature is largely responsible for low carryover grain stocks, the Clinton administration announced a program which idled nearly 5 million corn acres in 1995. In other words, the administration told farmers that Washington is better at making planting decisions than they are. Mr. President, idling 5 million corn acres is the same as idling 1 year of corn production in the State of Ohio--one of our Nation's most important Corn Belt States. In fact, under the Republican farm bill, this year's corn plantings are expected to increase by 15 percent over last year. Farmers are finally planting for the marketplace and not for the Government. As grain prices have risen, farmers have asked for an early out on their conservation reserve program contracts, in order to respond to a growing world demand for American grain. It is estimated that 9 of the 36 million acres in the CRP are not environmentally sensitive. Even though the administration had the authority to respond in time for planting, they refused to do so. In fact, every time the administration has announced an early out for CRP acres, it has been too late for spring planting. Several of my colleagues have joined me in expressing concern about the European beef hormone ban. For years, there had been no action from the Clinton White House. Suddenly when beef prices hit a 10 year low, the administration files a WTO case. I am encouraged that the administration has finally taken notice of this issue. But the administration cannot have it both ways. Administration officials have repeatedly criticized the beef industry. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt has led the Clinton administration's war on the west. The administration has raised grazing fees without input from Congress. They have locked land away from reasonable development and multiuse management. They have devalued property without compensation. Worst of all, they are trying to manage this land from Washington. Through Government manipulation of the markets and a series of harmful decisions, the administration has worsened the crises now facing farmers and ranchers. As I travel the country, I am reminded by farmers and ranchers that they are taxpayers too. And as taxpayers, they want less of Washington in their everyday lives. Despite all the rhetoric from the other side of the aisle, Republicans have passed a farm bill that will prepare farmers and ranchers for the 21st century. This farm bill provides farmers and ranchers with more flexibility, more certainty, and far less Government involvement in the agricultural industry. America's farmers and ranchers want less Government intrusion in their production and marketing decisions. It is high time the Clinton administration heeds their call. Notwithstanding considerable Democratic opposition, this was a bipartisan bill. In fact, Senator Lugar and Senator Leahy stood here on the floor and managed the bill in a bipartisan way, and on the House side there was bipartisan support. That effort was led by my colleague from Kansas, Congressman Pat Roberts, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, who I believe will be joining other colleagues in the Senate next year.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, there is probably no more important matter that we have discussed in the last year and 3 months than the issue of the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Last year the House of Representatives passed the balanced budget amendment by more than two-thirds vote required. We had several long weeks of debate here in the Senate before the amendment narrowly failed on a vote of 65 to 35 on March 2, 1995. As leader, I changed my vote so that I could reconsider the matter later, which I could do now, or next week, or next month, or sometime before the year is out. So we are one vote short--that is the point I am making--in the Senate. I continue to hope that we can resolve the balanced budget amendment issue and pass it this year. To help us get to that goal, I have asked Senators Craig, Hatch, and Domenici to sit down with colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the coming days to see where accommodation is possible on the balanced budget amendment. I have never thought this was a partisan issue. In fact, I have been around here for some time, and it has been discussed and supported by Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate over the past several years, and it is now. Many Democrats voted for the amendment last year, and we would like to have a couple more. We would like to have 8, or 10 more. Several Senators who changed their votes last year talked about a Social Security firewall. I think there are ways to add a provision to the balanced budget amendment that will ensure that Social Security surpluses can never again be used to mask deficit spending. Make no mistake, the amendment will still require that the Federal budget be balanced by the year 2002. That is our promise to the American people. And I believe we can also require that, after a suitable phase-in, the Federal budget be balanced without counting the surpluses in the Social Security trust funds. I am optimistic that we have an opportunity to pass the balanced budget amendment with broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. Senator Simon has been a leader in this important effort from the very beginning. I have directed our side to work with the Democrats and I would hope several of those Senators who changed their votes last year can come home again and support the balanced budget amendment as they have in the past. It is no small accomplishment that all of us now agree that the budget should be balanced by the year 2002. That is a big change since last March. It is not just Republicans saying it now, but all of us-- from Republicans to blue dog Democrats to the President of the United States. I believe that in itself is good news for America. Since we all agree that we ought to do this by the year 2002, one way to underscore our determination and convince the American people we are serious is to pass the constitutional amendment for a balanced budget that will require that we do it by the year 2002. So I do not give up hope that we can finally pass the balanced budget amendment and send it to the States for ratification. Remember that our action here is not the end of the line. The final decision about whether or not the balanced budget amendment will go into effect reverts to those outside Washington where most people would like to hope or think the decisions are made--with the States and with State legislators, with Governors, the American people, the taxpayers in each of the 50 States in America. The Founding Fathers decided to give the ultimate authority over constitutional amendments to those who are closest to the people, the men and women who serve in State houses around the country. So if we get a two-thirds vote for a balanced budget constitutional amendment in the Senate and the House, it then does not go to the President because he has nothing to do with it; it goes to the States, where if three- fourths of the States ratify the constitutional amendment within a certain time period, it becomes part of the Constitution of the United States. It has always seemed to me we should not be making judgments in an important area like balancing the budget; that we should bring in the States and bring in the State legislators, Republican or Democrat. They are closer to the people. They can better reflect the views of the people. And, again, if three-fourths of the States ratify the action by Congress and ratify the amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution. So why not go through the constitutional process that our Founding Fathers so wisely set up? There is a word for that process, and that word is democracy. That is what it is all about: Democracy. Let us let democracy work. No more excuses, no more obstacles. Eighty percent of the American people want a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. By passing the amendment, we can balance the budget by the year 2002. We can protect the Social Security trust funds, and we will have done the single most important thing we can do to ensure the Nation's economic security and to protect the American dream for our children and grandchildren. Now, having said this, it is my hope that we can start this process sometime this next week. As I said, there is no issue more important. Eighty percent of the American people wonder why we have not done it by now. We failed by one vote. Six of my colleagues who had voted for it the year before, voted against it last year. Maybe they will come back home. We will do our best to accommodate some of the concerns that some of my colleagues have raised on the other side of the aisle, if we can work out some accommodations. Let us take this out of politics. Let us tell the American people it is bipartisan, as it is, with Senator Simon the leader on the Democratic side, Senator Craig and Senator Hatch, Senator Domenici, and others on this side of the aisle. So we hope that we can find a solution next week, start on this next week and maybe complete action the following week. There is nothing more important. And I hope that we can come together, as we should, to do the right thing for the American people, the American taxpayers and our future generations.