Judd Gregg

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I understand the Parliamentarian has ruled that I have 5 minutes.

Mr. GREGG. Right.

Mr. GREGG. Or when she arrives. And the votes would begin thereafter.

Mr. GREGG. She will be here. So 10 minutes on the Snowe amendment would begin at 6:45.

Mr. GREGG. We are going to vote on Snowe and then Enzi and then Specter.

Mr. GREGG. We are going to vote on the Specter amendment.

Mr. GREGG. It should begin prior to the vote.

Mr. GREGG. I would have to add that it is my understanding Senator Enzi may divide the question on his amendment. That is his right, as I understand it; is that correct?

Mr. GREGG. We also need to have 2 minutes on Senator Enzi's amendment prior to his vote. So we would have 10 minutes prior to the Snowe amendment and 2 minutes prior to the Enzi amendment. And Senator Snowe would have the right to modify her amendment.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that if the other side does not require any additional debate, we begin the votes on the three pending amendments, which would be, in order, the Snowe amendment, the Enzi amendment, and the Specter amendment, beginning at 6:45.

Mr. GREGG. I thank the Senator.

Mr. GREGG. I thank the Senator and apologize for breaking the continuity. I think building the record on this issue is very important. We are trying to get a sense of the situation, so we can tell our membership what they are going to be doing this evening. After your amendment is completed, we will have three votes lined up. I wonder if we could agree that we would begin the vote on those amendments at sometime around 6:45.

Mr. GREGG. It is just a technical question. The answer might be better if he has time to think about it.

Mr. GREGG. Madam President, will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. GREGG. Reserving the right to object, as I understand it, as to the 10 minutes, because the amendment was itself divided into four parts, four holders of time will be given 2\1/2\ minute segments.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. GREGG. I understand the Senator from Texas has an amendment, which has been agreed to by both sides, and she needs about 3 minutes to present it. Is there any objection to setting aside the Enzi amendment and allowing the Senator from Texas to go forward?

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, what is the time situation?

Mr. GREGG. I didn't say it was agreed to; I just said they had 10 minutes.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senator from Wyoming be recognized to offer an amendment and that we debate that for up to 30 minutes with the time equally divided and no second-degree; that thereafter, we go to an amendment from Senator Gramm, which I understand is agreed to, and that debate will be up to 10 minutes; then we go to an amendment from Senator Specter.

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

Mr. GREGG. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GREGG. I think it is a Gramm amendment actually.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, for the edification of our colleagues, the projected order of events is that Senator Gramm and Senator McCain are going to offer an amendment which I believe is agreed to and will require no vote. We will lay aside the Snowe amendment, and then Senator Enzi is going to offer an amendment. We will debate the Enzi amendment for whatever time he requires. I am not sure it will be that long. Then Senator Specter will offer an amendment after laying aside the pending amendments. We will debate that and then probably go to a vote on the Specter, Snowe, and Enzi amendments later this evening-- hopefully early evening.

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