Pete Domenici

Mr. DOMENICI

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we thank the Senator for doing that. Senator Robb is the last amendment that I think we have to have a vote on.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the next amendment is Senator John Kerry's amendment No. 2230. Mr. KERRY addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, we have just two amendments that require votes, but we have finally agreed on the Boxer amendment and there will not be a second-degree amendment. I ask that amendment No. 2234 be called up. This will be voice voted. It is already understood if the Republicans say ``no'' loud enough, you will win.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, first of all, the amendment violates the Budget Act. This sets up a new reserve fund to create a new entitlement for disabled people. It permits the raising of taxes in order to pay for it, and in every respect it violates the Budget Act. I do not think I have to say much more. We have denied any new reserve fund where specific revenues or resources have not been allocated. That is the case here. We think we have adequately taken care of the disabled under our budget. In many cases, we have done more than what the President has done. So with that, I make a point of order that the amendment is not in order under the Budget Act.

Mr. DOMENICI. The next amendment is the Feingold amendment. Amendment No. 2224

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I believe the next amendment is amendment No. 2220 by Senator Biden. Mr. BIDEN addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I didn't want to interrupt, but some of us are having a little difficulty hearing even when there is quiet. Maybe Senators could make sure they are talking into the mike. I didn't hear much of what Senator Murray said. But, Mr. President, let me say what I understand this amendment does. It asks for a $2.5 billion increase in education for special ed. It doesn't say where the money comes from, but it comes from somewhere in the budget. The Republican budget before us asks $2.5 billion more for special ed than the President of the United States asked for. As a matter of fact, the President, after committing to dramatically increase special ed, increased it $38 million while we increase it $2.5 billion. We said where we took the money so that it is doable. This one does not even indicate what programs in the Government would be cut to pay for this. I don't believe this is the way we ought to do business here, and if the time has been yielded back, I yield mine. I move to table the Murray amendment.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, the next amendment will be one from our side. It is our last amendment, which Senator Nickles has. It is No. 2257. Mr. NICKLES addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOMENICI. I yield the minute we have to Senator Chafee.

Mr. DOMENICI. Next is Senator Reid on amendment No. 2206.

Mr. DOMENICI. We really roll when everybody is sitting in their chair. Amendment No. 2206

Mr. DOMENICI. There is overwhelming support for the budget resolution, which does the same thing.

Mr. DOMENICI. Can we voice vote it?

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, Senator Wellstone, if you will look at the budget, what we recommended is precisely what you are saying in your sense of the Senate. We reinstated $153 million in veterans' programs that the President had cut. Your amendment would be totally redundant. I think what we could agree to here is that the amendment provides for an assumption that increases the level to the exact level you have recommended in your sense of the Senate. Thus, I don't think we need a sense of the Senate.

Mr. DOMENICI. Is Senator Wellstone ready?

Mr. DOMENICI. Let's make sure we understand, I am not chairman at that point. In my capacity as a Senator, I agree that I will do everything I can in that regard.

Mr. DOMENICI. This sense-of-the-Senate amendment requests that the functional total in this budget that we assume in the EEOC should receive $279 million in budget authority. This is the level requested by the President. The amendment would raise a freeze baseline we assume by $37 million. From my standpoint, ultimately the Appropriations Committee will determine between a freeze and a $37 million reduction, but if the Senator insists on this, then I have to move to table and ask for the yeas and nays. I think you are just as apt to get the money without the amendment as you are with it, because it will be up to, incidentally, the man sitting in the chair, coupled with a couple of other Senators, which of the two levels will be funded. There is plenty of money for them to go either way. Having said that, I urge you to withdraw your amendment. We stated the case here, but if you would like to vote.

Mr. DOMENICI. The next amendment to come up is Kennedy amendment No. 2185 regarding the EEOC.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I report to the Senate, on the Republican side we have one amendment left, Senator Nickles; on the Democratic side eight. I hope you can reduce that number some so we can get out of here earlier than any of us expected. Amendment No. 2185, withdrawn

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I understand that we are calling them up now. The Coverdell amendment is the next amendment we would like to call up on our side. Mr. COVERDELL addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, for the benefit of the Senators, and this has been agreed to by the ranking member, we will now start the 1- minute ``vote-arama.'' From the list we will call up an amendment and it will be taken up. When it is finished, we will call up another one. We will alternate back and forth. We are getting it down to a reasonable number on our side. We are hoping the other side will get rid of three or four more there, but we are going to start this way. The first amendment on our side is the amendment of Senator Grams, No. 2222, and that will be followed by Senator Kennedy, amendment No. 2184. For each one, they will tell you the title and then the Senator will have 1 minute to explain it. Amendment No. 2222 by Senator Grams is called up. Amendment No. 2222

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOMENICI. I ask the yeas and nays be vitiated.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.