Wendell Ford

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Ohio [Mr. Glenn], is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Ohio [Mr. Glenn], the Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Johnston], the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Kerrey], the Senator from Connecticut [Mr. Lieberman], and the Senator from Illinois [Mr. Simon] are necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. This side has no objections, Mr. President.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I would just want to say that we have already started when we come back, that we are going to be in late hours. This family friendly Senate that we were going to have at the beginning of the year--it is very difficult--to already say we are going to have 9 hours on Tuesday and we will work late into the evening, I am sure that will be music to everyone's ears. I hope that the Senator can use his persuasive powers and that we will get a normal dinner time when we return.

Mr. FORD. It is going to be an exceptional year, all right.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, on advice from Senator Hollings, who is unable to be here at the moment, I understand that these are acceptable to him on this side. [[Page S 14541]] Amendment No. 2819

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I object.

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

Mr. FORD. Reserving the right to object, would the Senator withhold?

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to inform the Chair that this side has no objection to the distinguished Senator's motion.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I understand that the distinguished Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan], has the balance of the time of 15 minutes. I ask unanimous consent that I have a portion of his time, if not all of it.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I have a footnote to these remarks. I have known Tom and Linda Daschle for a good many years now. In the position that Senator Daschle is in as leader of the Democratic minority here in the Senate, one of the attributes that Senator Daschle has is that he is straightforward, that he is honest, and he is of great character. I have known his wife, Linda, now for a good many years, having dealt with her and the association she represented and now as Deputy Director of FAA. I do not think anyone that has known her would doubt her character. Being the daughter of a Baptist minister, the training that she received in her early years is still with her today. Those who know them well believe that the allegations were not true, and I think our belief in this couple was vindicated by the report from the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. Mr. President, I felt it was incumbent upon me as a friend and as a part of this side of the aisle that these remarks be made for the record and the vindication of our good friends be noted in the Record. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, earlier this year newspaper reports detailed allegations that FAA personnel may have withheld or destroyed documents to avoid the public release of information embarrassing to our colleague and Democratic leader Daschle and Deputy Administrator Linda Daschle, his wife. Shortly after there appeared further allegations that Mrs. Daschle may have violated the terms of her recusal at the FAA by involving herself in the agency's consideration of certain policy proposals by the leader for the consolidation of air charter inspections. The distinguished chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Senator McCain, requested a full investigation of these allegations by the Department of Transportation office of inspector general. Senator Daschle supported that request because he felt the allegations needed a thorough inquiry. Last Thursday, after an exhaustive investigation of 7 months, the inspector general released his report finding no basis in fact for these allegations. Mr. President, whenever allegations originally are carried in the press with great fanfare, are investigated and found to be groundless, fairness to all concerned requires that we take the same notice of the resolution as we did the original charge. Mr. President, let me read just one paragraph from the inspector general's report as it relates to these allegations. I think it says it all. This investigation disclosed no evidence to substantiate that documents were destroyed as alleged. Nor did this investigation disclose evidence to substantiate that Deputy Administrator Daschle violated her recusal. Accordingly, it is recommended that this investigation be closed. For the benefit of those who may have missed the stories in Saturday's newspapers, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the report of the inspector general be printed in the Record.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Pryor] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2769

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. Now, as I understand it, in the plan as we operate it today, the premium goes up only based on a COLA. So instead of being 31 percent, it is only at 28 percent. Therefore, as the COLA is increased, the other amount is increased, but it is basically at 28 percent instead of 31 percent, as our friend from Rhode Island has indicated.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I am going through the Chair, as we should. Will the Senator yield for a question.

Mr. FORD. Will the Senator from Connecticut yield?

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, this is not a question and answer.

Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Connecticut have another 5 minutes.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Pryor] is necessarily absent.

Mr. FORD

Mr. FORD. I announce that the Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Pryor] is necessarily absent.