John McCain

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 5:30 be equally divided for debate on the pending McCain-Wyden amendment, and at the conclusion of the debate the Senate proceed to vote on or in relationship to the amendment. I further ask that no second-degree amendments be in order prior to the vote.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Florida what he wants.

Mr. McCAIN. I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with the Senator from Florida.

Mr. McCAIN. What time agreement will the Senator from Florida agree to?

Mr. McCAIN. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 3678, the Abraham amendment, be modified, and I send the modification to the desk.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I send to the desk a modification to amendment No. 3721.

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Has all time expired?

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be 15 minutes, with 10 minutes on this side, controlled by the Senator from Alaska, and 5 minutes controlled by the Senator from North Dakota, that no second-degree amendments be in order, and immediately following that, there be a vote on the Murkowski tabling motion.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I believe Senator Murkowski will be seeking to table the underlying amendment. Mr. MURKOWSKI addressed the Chair.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I repeat the request.

Mr. McCAIN. It is that there be 15 minutes on a Murkowski tabling motion, with 10 minutes under the control of the Senator from Alaska, 5 minutes under the control of the Senator from North Dakota, with no intervening second-degree amendments, immediately followed by a vote.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. the PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCAIN. For the convenience of Senators who have plans this evening and were told that we would have a vote, I would ask unanimous consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be rescinded.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask to be recognized.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, we obviously have a problem. The Senator from Florida is insisting on a point of order that will basically gut this legislation. I want to go ahead and vote on the Murkowski amendment. If the Senator from Florida wants to destroy this bill, which is supported by literally everyone except him, he is free to do that. Mr. President, how much time remains?

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, first of all, let me say for my colleagues where we are on this bill. We believe that we had an agreement that there would be this vote on the Murkowski amendment to table, and then we would proceed to adopt a previously agreed to amendment that had been agreed to by the Senator from North Dakota who has been managing the bill and others that have been involved in the legislation. Apparently, that was not agreed to by the Senator from Florida who intends to at least at this time challenge on the issue of germaneness the amendment that the Senator from North Dakota, the Senator from Oregon, I, the Senator from Wyoming, and others had agreed to, which has to do with the definition of what are discriminatory taxes. This, obviously, germane point of order would carry, or there is a likelihood that it would. That would reduce the effectiveness or the impact of this bill to the point where it would be nearly meaningless. The Senator from Florida has told me that he will work overnight with us and with others to try to craft some agreement or relook at the entire issue. I hope that he will do so. After the vote at 11 tomorrow on VA-HUD, I will then propose amendment No. 3711. At that time, if the Senator from Florida still wishes to, obviously he can challenge the amendment on point of order concerning whether the amendment is germane or not. Mr. President, I think everybody realizes how important this legislation is. I would very much hate to see it derailed at this point in time. But the amendment, 3711, is vital to this legislation. Some may ask why we didn't propose it earlier. That is because it was part of a package of negotiation that we were in with the Senator from North Dakota, and others. I respect the right of the Senator from Florida to object on germaneness grounds. That is his right as a Senator. I do not challenge that.

Mr. McCAIN. I ask unanimous consent to yield to the Senator from Oregon without losing my right to the floor.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, these things happen as we consider legislation. There are very strongly held views on this issue, especially by the Senator from Florida who, as a former Governor, understands the impact of these issues on his State. I understand that and appreciate that. But I want to be clear that my interpretation and that of the Senator from Oregon and the proponents of this legislation are that if we do not allow the amendment 3711, then the legislation itself would be rendered largely meaningless.

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem be permitted to meet on October 7, 1998, at 9:30 a.m. for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia to meet on Wednesday, October 7, 1998, at 2:00 p.m. for a hearing on ``Are Military Adultery Standards Changing: What Are the Implications?''

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 10 at 5 p.m., Thursday, October 8.