John McCain

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. I have submitted an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Lautenberg, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCAIN. Maybe the Senator could do that in the next few minutes while I make a couple of comments, if that is agreeable.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, there is no further debate on the amendment.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Mississippi for his very adroit, as always, capable work on this issue and moving this legislation along. I thank my colleague from New Hampshire, Mr. Sununu, who feels very strongly about this issue. I know we will be revisiting this issue again. I thank my colleagues. I strongly recommend that we agree to the amendment by voice vote. I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, we await the arrival of Senator Lautenberg so we can move forward with his amendment. Then I am informed that at least Senators Alexander, Carper, and Voinovich do not intend to offer their amendment on definition, but there are other Senators who also have an interest in this issue. So it is not for sure that we are not going to have an amendment on that issue. As I mentioned, moratorium and the grandfather issues need to be addressed, and Senator Lautenberg's amendment addresses the issue of grandfathering. So we await his arrival in hopes that we can get that disposed of, and then the Lott amendment and then we would be ready to move to final passage. I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from California for her courtesy. I would like to report that after a very productive meeting amongst the principals who have been involved in this legislation, I might add, I was reminded, for about 8 years now, and thanks to the good offices of Senators Dorgan, Voinovich, Allen, Lott, Alexander, and Carper, I think we have the outline of an agreement that I hope can lead to a successful conclusion within the next hour or so. We have refined the issues basically down to two. One of them is the issue of a moratorium. We expect Senator Lautenberg to come to the floor with an amendment on the issue of moratorium, the numbers of years of a moratorium for different protocols, and also one on the definition of the backbone. It is not clear whether the second issue will require a recorded vote. We also reached an agreement on an amendment I will propose on behalf of all of us in a few minutes that has to do with the voice over Internet protocol issue, a definition to which we have agreed. I inform my colleagues, I think it is very possible that we could have one or two more votes and then vote on final passage. At least I am hopeful of that outcome. I again thank my colleagues for their progress. I will also mention that there are a couple of Senators who are being checked in who had amendments to make sure their concerns are being addressed in the amendments that may be proposed. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. If the Senator will yield for one additional comment, I appreciate what the Senator from Nevada said. He is very experienced at floor procedures. I point out we have been on this bill all week. I would hope we could finish it tonight. I see no reason why we cannot. I understand his skepticism. In no way did I mean to criticise the very important statements being made on the vital issue of national security. I thank the Senator from West Virginia for his indulgence. I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Senator from West Virginia. It is the intention of all to finish this legislation tonight. I hope those with amendments will come over during the period that Senator Byrd makes his remarks so we can proceed with amending this legislation. I regret it, but I will object to further extraneous conversation or dialog until we finish consideration of this bill because I do not want to inconvenience Members by keeping them in late tonight. We have some 31 relevant amendments. We need to get about addressing them. I thank the Senator from West Virginia for allowing me to comment.

Mr. McCAIN. Will the Senator from West Virginia yield to me 30 seconds for a comment?

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I thank all of my colleagues for the comity that has existed in addressing this bill. I thank, of course, Senator Allen, Senator Lott and Senator Sununu, and many others who have helped to get this bill to the point where it is. We are ready to consider amendments. I assured the opponents of this bill who have fought tenaciously--Senator Voinovich, Senator Alexander, and Senator Carper in particular--that if there is an amendment which they have filed which is not technically germane but is associated with the Internet tax, I would ask consent that it be considered because there was a feeling that they did not have their amendments properly considered. I hope we can give them that consideration. I hope we can move forward soon with the amendments. As I last checked, there are about 30 which were filed. I hope we can move forward, debate, and dispose of those amendments. I thank all of my colleagues for their cooperation. I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the Daschle amendment is not germane and ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to vote against cloture on the Domenici amendment. It has really no business on an Internet tax bill. We all know that. I read again from the Washington Post of this morning: It would make far more sense for Senators who are interested in some aspect of this legislation, whether ethanol or electricity regulation or renewable fuels, to design bills around those issues and vote on them separately, judging each by its own merits. But that would be too rational for this Senate which seems almost to prefer doing things sideways. There is no need for this legislation on the bill. It has no place on it. I can assure my colleagues it would be dropped in conference if it were adopted.

Mr. McCAIN. The Senator from Delaware would like to make a comment.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I intend to yield back the remainder of my time. I ask unanimous consent that there be 2 minutes equally divided prior to the second and third votes and that the votes be limited to 10 minutes each.

Mr. McCAIN. I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I yield myself 20 seconds before then. I commend to my colleagues this morning the Washington Post editorial entitled ``Energy Follies.'' I quote: It would make far more sense for Senators who are interested in some aspect of this legislation--whether ethanol or electricity regulation or renewable fuels--to design bills around those issues and vote on them separately, judging each by its own merits. But that would be too rational for this Senate, which almost seems to prefer doing things sideways. I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the Record, and I yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Tennessee.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I intend to yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Tennessee and then yield the remainder of my time. I understand the Senator from North Dakota is going to yield the remainder of his time also; is that correct?

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCAIN. That is correct. Please proceed.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, while we are awaiting the amendment and the presence or decision on Senator Feinstein's amendment, I wish to make a couple of comments about individuals. I specifically speak of Senator Alexander, Senator Voinovich, and Senator Carper, who fought very hard and valiantly on this issue. We have honest differences of opinion on this issue. It is very likely we will pass this legislation, but Senator Alexander, Senator Voinovich, Senator Carper, and Senator Dorgan have had an enormous impact. We have gone from a permanent ban to a 4-year moratorium. We are changing the definition of voice over Internet protocol. We have made significant changes to this legislation thanks to their efforts. Throughout, our debate has been characterized by mutual respect and understanding that we just have fundamental differences of opinion. I congratulate them on a battle well fought. Although they may have lost in passage of the legislation, they improved it dramatically, and I say that from a position on both sides of the issue. They brought into play their backgrounds as Governors of their respective States and bring a much needed perspective to this body. I congratulate them for their very outstanding work, particularly over the long period of time we have been involved in this issue. If we pass this bill shortly--and we may not--there are two individuals who deserve the credit: Senators Allen and Wyden, who took up this legislation years ago, and followed it. They have been relentless, dedicated advocates, and have brought their debate and discussion all over America. They have done an outstanding job. They are the ones who, I believe, deserve the credit on all of it for the magnificent work they have done on an issue that is of great importance and profound importance to small and large businesses all over America. I thank them for their valued efforts. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I would never, ever believe that my friend from Nevada would stretch any of the Senate rules. Of course, I appreciate his real knowledge of the rules of the Senate. I yield the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. I thank the chairman.

Mr. McCAIN. At what time does the Pastore rule apply?

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. I reserve the right to object. I will not object, but I will point out to the Senator that we are prepared to move on to the Burma issue, and it is important. I know what the Senator wants to discuss: the importance of passing the highway bill and his objection and the usual degeneration that has taken place around here. We would like to talk about Burma and a woman who is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who is being kept under house arrest. But I will not object to the request of the Senator from Nevada.