Don Nickles

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 10 a.m. on Friday, May 25. I further ask unanimous consent that on Friday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and the Senate then begin a period for morning business, with Senators speaking for up to 10 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Durbin, or his designee, 30 minutes; Senator Thomas, or his designee, 30 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 45, S. 378.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration Calendar No. 49, H.R. 581.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 46, S. 468.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. 318 be star printed with the changes at the desk.

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

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Jeffords) is necessarily absent.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 47, S. 757.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements and supporting documents be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES

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

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

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy for bringing the nomination of Ted Olson to be Solicitor General to the floor of the Senate. I am delighted we are going to have a vote on Mr. Olson. I know him well. I think he will be an outstanding Solicitor General not only for this President and this administration but for our country as well. Mr. Olson's qualifications are beyond reproach. He was an undergraduate at the University of the Pacific and received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, one of the nation's leading law firms, from 1965 to 1981, and also from 1984 until the present time. He served as Assistant Attorney General from 1981 to 1984, providing legal advice to President Reagan and Attorney General William French Smith and other executive branch officials. He has handled a lot of very important cases. Probably the best known case was Bush v. Gore. No matter which side of that case you supported, you had to admire the skill with which he argued a very complicated and, needless to say, very important case. In addition, he has argued numerous other very significant cases before the Supreme Court and other federal and state courts. I will include for the Record a highlight of seven of these important cases. Ted Olson has been on both sides of the courtroom battles. He has defended the Government and counseled the President. As Assistant Attorney General, he dealt with limiting government power as well. In private practice, he has defended private interests against the Government. In his arguments on both sides of the courtroom, he has presented factual cases and positions in both Federal and state courts, arguing for the government and against the Government. That type of experience is almost unequaled in a nominee for Solicitor General. He will be an outstanding credit to the administration and to the country. His nomination is supported by liberals and conservatives, by individuals such as Robert Bork, Robert Bennett and Laurence Tribe. Different people with different viewpoints have reached the same conclusion I have reached: Ted Olson will be an outstanding Solicitor General, and he should receive our very strong support. I am delighted we will be confirming him as the next Solicitor General of the United States. I ask unanimous consent to print the list of cases to which I referred in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 48, S. 774.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Jeffords) is necessarily absent.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will be in a period for morning business beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow. It is hoped the Senate can begin consideration of the tax reconciliation conference report at a reasonable time during tomorrow's session. Senators should be aware a vote is expected on the conference report prior to adjourning for the Memorial Day recess. The Senate may also consider any executive or legislative items available for action.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Jeffords) and the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Frist) are necessarily absent.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Ensign) is necessarily absent.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. McCain) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Helms) are necessarily absent.

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Stevens) is necessarily absent.