Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I will be glad to yield.

Mr. LOTT. I understand that, but I hope we do not negotiate it into a meaningless number or right of people to participate further. Having said that, we have an agreement that I think we can accept at this point that will get us to some straight up-or-down votes and conclusion. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Feinstein now be recognized to offer a second-degree amendment; that there be 90 minutes equally divided in the usual form, to be followed by a vote in relation to the Feinstein amendment. If the amendment is tabled, a vote will immediately occur on the Thompson amendment without any intervening action or debate. If the amendment is not tabled, there will be up to 90 minutes for debate on both amendments running concurrently to be equally divided, and following that time, the Senate proceed to a vote on the Thompson amendment to be followed by a vote on the Feinstein amendment which will be modified to be a first-degree amendment. I further ask unanimous consent that Senator Thompson have the right to modify his amendment, with the concurrence of Senator Feinstein and Senator McConnell, if the motion to table the Feinstein amendment fails, and the modification must be offered prior to the vote on the Thompson and the Feinstein amendments.

Mr. LOTT. I will be glad to modify it to that extent, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT. I yield to Senator Reid for comment.

Mr. LOTT. I believe Senator Thompson has a further comment.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this is a process that allows time to debate further the provisions of the Thompson proposal and to debate the Feinstein proposal and for those that are trying to find some third way to negotiate, too. I think in order to keep everybody calm and everybody comfortable in going forward, everybody ought to have a part and be aware of what change might be entered into in terms of the modification. I think this is the way to guarantee that. Senator Dodd, Senator McConnell, Senator Feinstein, Senator Reid, everybody has been, so far, dealing with this in a fair way, protecting each other's rights. We started off by a Senator not being allowed to modify his amendment. It caused a pretty good uproar and everybody said we don't want to do that. I think we are swatting at ghosts when it is really not necessary.

Mr. LOTT. I say to Senator McCain, he is absolutely right. I could seek recognition and offer a modification, too. I am going to try to make sure nobody gets cut out. Senator McCain was one of the ones who made sure when we started this whole debate that the Senator was allowed to modify his own amendment. If there is an agreement reached, we are going to find a way to get that done.

Mr. LOTT. I urge we go ahead and get this consent, get started, and start talking and continue to try to find a way to move forward in good faith, as we have done so far.

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor. Amendment No. 151 to Amendment No. 149

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, we have a consent request with regard to how to proceed for the rest of the night and tomorrow. Unanimous Consent Agreement Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that time on the DeWine amendment be used during tonight's session and, following that time, the Senate proceed to morning business. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m. and there be 15 minutes for closing remarks on the amendment, to be equally divided, and the Senate then proceed to a vote in relation to the DeWine amendment. I further ask unanimous consent that following that vote the Senate proceed to the Harkin amendment for 2 hours equally divided in the usual form, and following that time the Senate proceed to vote on or in relation to the Harkin amendment. Let me note that I didn't get a chance to clear this with Senator Reid. But I understand Senator Warner has an amendment he wants to offer.

Mr. LOTT. I modify the request to say, as I have already read it, except that after the DeWine amendment the time be used tonight and then go to the Warner amendment at that point. Following that, we would go to morning business.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I certainly agree with that. These two managers of this bill have worked together very closely--Senators McConnell and Dodd. Their job has been particularly difficult this time because they are trying to accommodate everyone on all sides of this issue on both sides of the aisle and are trying to also accommodate the wishes of the two leaders on both sides as well as the principal sponsors of this bill. They have worked hard to make good progress. Without commenting on the work product result, I think they certainly deserve a lot of credit for their yeomen efforts to try to keep it calm and moving forward.

Mr. LOTT. He will.

Mr. LOTT. In light of this agreement, there will be no further votes tonight. The next vote will occur at approximately 9:45 a.m. Thursday. Also, the managers intend to complete this bill by the close of business tomorrow, so that is going to mean a lot more work. There are a number of amendments that are still pending. But if Senators expect to complete our work tomorrow, we are going to have to put our nose to the grindstone and just make it happen. So we should expect numerous votes tomorrow. And we would hope to finish at a reasonable hour early in the evening or late in the afternoon. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe Senator Snowe had gotten consent for 2 additional minutes.

Mr. LOTT. I do not believe there would be any objection.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I just consulted with Senator Daschle, the managers of the legislation, and all interested parties. We believe the best way to proceed tonight is to go ahead and have the next amendment laid down, which is the Thompson-Collins amendment, and that be debated tonight for whatever time is necessary, 2, 2\1/2\ hours. We will come in in the morning at 9:15, have 30 minutes of debate equally divided, and have the next recorded vote about 9:45 a.m. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the Thompson- Collins amendment and, following the debate tonight, there be 30 minutes equally divided for closing remarks tomorrow beginning at 9:15 a.m., to be followed by a vote on or in relation to the amendment.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I say to the Senator from Arizona, I hope he will do that because it will give everybody a chance to talk through everything tonight. In the morning, a whole new strategy may exist on the Senator's behalf or somebody else's behalf. If we can withhold that now, I assume that is the direction we are going to go, but I think the managers want to have some further discussion about it.

Mr. LOTT. There are some additional amendments I understand Senators would want to offer. I don't have a finite list. I don't know whether there are 2 or 3 or 10. The Senator may want to consult with the manager on that side. I don't know that there are more than a couple--I just don't know.

Mr. LOTT. We are enjoying this immensely and we don't want to rush to finish this at a reasonable hour tomorrow. But if that is the will of the Senate, we may want to consider that.

Mr. LOTT. In light of the agreement, the next vote is at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday. I yield the floor. Amendment No. 149

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have agreed that this was the last vote of the day. If I may have the attention of the managers, I believe there is an understanding that we will do a couple more amendments today.

Mr. LOTT. I yield to Senator McConnell.