J. Exon

Mr. EXON

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

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, in an effort to try to save time I would like to suggest that we consider--since we have four Ashcroft amendments, I wish that we would, if the Senator from Missouri would agree--that we could voice vote through the next two amendments and then have the real contest on the third of the Ashcroft amendments. I think that would save some time. I would like to ask if the Senator from Missouri would consider such a move in order to move things along.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I withdraw my kind offer. [Laughter.] Amendment No. 4944 to Amendment No. 4941

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, there is no opposition to this amendment that I know of. I recommend that all Senators vote in favor of the amendment. I would simply point out that the amendment does nothing more than what the States can already do. I will vote for this amendment, and the one that follows. I will strongly oppose the third amendment by the Senator from Missouri.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I know of no one on this side of the aisle or on the other side of the aisle that opposes this amendment by the Senator from Missouri. I would simply state what I said on the last amendment. If the Senator insists on a rollcall vote, I recommend that all Senators vote in favor of the amendment as, like the preceding amendment, it does nothing more than what the States can already do. I hope that we could move things along, and I would point out that I will strongly oppose the next amendment offered by the Senator from Missouri.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

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

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the Senate is not in order.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the Senate may not have heard the closing remarks by the Senator from Washington. I believe she suggested the amendment has been cleared on both sides and she will accept a voice vote.

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

Mr. EXON. Reserving right to object, I would simply say to my friend and colleague from New Mexico, I appreciate the fact he has expedited things a great deal by, I think, eliminating 22 of the 25 points of order that we raised.

Mr. EXON. I simply remind all that, for any or all of these three to be agreed to, it would require 60 votes. Is that correct?

Mr. EXON. In view of that, and in view of the fact that time is running on, and I think we all recognize we are going to be on this bill--with closing statements from the managers and the two leaders and then final passage--it looks to me like we are going to run up toward 6 o'clock if we do not expedite things. I am just wondering--I make the suggestion to expedite things--rather than have three separate votes, could we package these three into one vote? I remind all, the chance of these motions being agreed to, with the 60-vote point of order, is not very likely. But if there is strong feeling in the Senate on these, then the 60 votes would be there. Will the Senator consider packaging the three into one vote?

Mr. EXON. What you are saying is three is the minimum?

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I yield our time to the Senator from Louisiana.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I speak in opposition to the amendment. I simply point out to all that, in my opinion, this is a direct violation of the church-and-state relationship. I yield the remainder of my time to my colleague from Illinois.

Mr. EXON. I yield our time to the Senator from Washington.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the Senate is not in order. I can hardly hear the Senator.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the welfare reform bill before us will win no beauty contests. It is not the fairest of them all--and I intend the double meaning. With reservations, I voted in committee to send the measure to the floor. I wanted changes for fairer treatment of children and other stated concerns. We have made some improvements, but more are needed. In the opinion of this Senator, we have already voted on the best welfare reform bill. That distinction belongs to the Democratic work first plan that regrettably, in my view, did not pass the Senate. I believe, Mr. President, that the bill before us is maybe, just maybe, the framework for a welfare plan that can win the support of a majority in both Houses, and just as important, the approval of the President. It is near the best plan we can pass and bring to bear on a welfare system that cries out for change. I will not strike my tent now because I did not get everything I wanted in this bill. I believe that it goes a long way to reforming much that is wrong with the welfare system. We cannot lose this opportunity to break welfare's bitter cycle of dependency. It is my sincerest hope that the majority will work with those of us appointed as minority conferees and with the President during conference to improve this measure, and to push that process forward. I hope, as well, that the Senate will insist on its more moderate positions in the conference with the House. Mr. President, in my 18 years in the Senate, this Senator has always sought the middle ground. I do so again today. I will vote for this bill today and reserve my final determination until the conference report returns to the Senate. In closing, let me take a moment to thank the Democratic staff, and in particular, Bill Dauster, Joan Huffer, Jodi Grant, and Mary Peterson. They have provided invaluable service to this Senator and our caucus. I yield the balance of my time to the Senator from California.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. No objection.

Mr. EXON. Yes, these are things I have to do as a manager of the bill on this side, including points of order requests.

Mr. EXON. There are three amendments that were on the list that the Senators have not come to formally offer today, and I intend to perform that duty for them.

Mr. EXON. I amend the request, if I might. I ask unanimous consent that, if necessary to discharge the duties assigned to the Democratic leader of the Budget Committee, that the additional 10 minutes be assigned to this Senator and this Senator only.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.