Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Pill.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I asked for recognition.

Mr. FORD. You will?

Mr. FORD. The one that signed the tax in 1990, that was a poison pen too, my friend?

Mr. FORD. I like what we are doing. We are having a good time.

Mr. FORD. I do not want the meat loaf to get too hard, and I do not want to stay around here. I would like to talk with you now.

Mr. FORD. You yield the floor.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I apologize for taking so much time here, but I think what we are getting into is important. There is no way under the 4.3-cent gasoline tax any assurance that the consumer will get it. So all we ask is let that proposal stand alone and we will have relevant amendments and a time agreement. But we are blocked out of amendments; we have to take it as is. Why, you could give an income tax credit of 4.3 cents, and that would assure that the consumer, the taxpayer would get the money. We do not even have a chance to put up that kind of amendment. You know, a blind hog every once in a while finds an acorn. We might come up with a good suggestion, but we are precluded from amending. That is No. 1.

Mr. FORD. Because I think the team concept is fine. I understand that well. That is to improve the flow of the----

Mr. FORD. Plural; plural.

Mr. FORD. You disagree. Well, I had fun while it lasted.

Mr. FORD. But I like the team concept of working together, making the assembly line work better, put out a better product, make more profit for the employer. But if you take this out, if you pass this bill, as I understand it, as my lawyers tell me, then the employer selects the team and that is the end of it. He appoints his son-in-law and a couple of others and that is the end of it, because you do not allow what is going on now. You eliminate the law, and the law then gives the employer the opportunity to select the teams. Now you say, ``Well, that will never happen.'' That is what this law says.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Oh, come on.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Fill the tree.

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Vermont [Mr. Leahy] is absent because of a death in the family.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Would the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. FORD. I want to ask about Social Security.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Lautenberg] and the Senator from Vermont [Mr. Leahy] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, in Appalachia in a community and a county called Harlan, there is a group of young men who now for decades--some have fathers that sang in this choir, and their sons are now singing in this choir. They all donate their time. The director of this choral group donates his time. It is after everything else is done. They have won international honors without much fanfare, without much publicity. But we know them, and we love them. In 1988, they were here to sing at the inauguration. They sang for the inauguration, the Kentucky Society, the Bullets basketball game, and they kind of took this town by storm. Everybody liked them when they found out about them, like I do. Mr. President, this group is back in town. They are here visiting Washington again. I know the policy and rules of the committee. I can go only so far. But I want it to be in the Record that this group is here, and I want my colleagues to know how important they are to me, and to our State. So, Mr. President, if any of you see some young men, fine young men, walking around this town, or walking around this Capitol Building--they have on light green T-shirts--I hope that you will walk up to them and thank them for their contribution to something that is real, something that is tangible, and something that is lasting. I yield the floor. Mr. BURNS addressed the Chair.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3752

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I think it is set on Friday.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, will the distinguished majority leader yield for a question? Did I understand that we might be able to get out of here to see the greatest 2 minutes in sports?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] and the Senator from Connecticut [Mr. Dodd] are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from New York [Mr. Moynihan] would vote ``aye.''

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Lautenberg] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, will the distinguished Senator from Wyoming allow me to ask him a question?