Larry Pressler

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. Personal computers cost much, much less in Rapid City.

Mr. PRESSLER. Well, I would have supported the concept of a consent decree. I think we have reached a point where Congress should take back its rightful role. I think that Judge Greene probably would say that. I have not met him. I would love to meet him some day, because he is one of the great people in American history in terms of what he has done. An industrial reconstruction that is bigger than any in history. I always tell students when I give speeches in my State of South Dakota, if they want to influence public policy, they should become a journalist or Federal judge first, if they really want to have sweeping affects. I cite Judge Greene as an example. But if I may say so, we are sort of debating the chicken and the egg.

Mr. PRESSLER. I am not trying to score debate points, but in part, it was a failure of everyone and previous Congresses and administrations to tackle the difficult problem we were trying to tackle. I am not putting anybody down. This bill has been worked on by many Senators, and the Senator from South Carolina has shown great courage. His speech was one of the great speeches that I have heard in the Senate. I would say to my good friend from Nebraska, may I ask a question: Is there any other precedent, is there any other industry that has been taken over by the Justice Department and regulated and run as Judge Greene's decree did? Is not that unprecedented?

Mr. PRESSLER. Would my friend yield?

Mr. PRESSLER. We have a situation that I think we have the responsibility to act.

Mr. PRESSLER. Congress has been paralyzed and unable to make telecommunications policy because there are so many people in telecommunications who can checkmate the decision. So as telecommunications was modernizing, the Congress was not reacting, and the pressure built up to the point that Judge Greene made the decision that he did.

Mr. PRESSLER. In part, yes. The Congress should have acted.

Mr. PRESSLER. We are in unchartered waters in the sense that already the Department of Justice is running an industry, so to speak. That is without precedent in terms of Judge Greene's order, which I think was necessary, because Congress did not do its duty. Congress is now doing its duty or trying to in this bill.

Mr. PRESSLER. Will my friend yield?

Mr. PRESSLER. If my colleague will yield, we could debate until midnight or beyond, and Members who wish to speak could speak tonight and vote at 9 in the morning. Everybody could speak who wants to speak this evening.

Mr. PRESSLER. I yield time.

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

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

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, an up or down vote has been agreed to. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PRESSLER. If my colleague will yield, if we could debate all this evening, and have a vote at 9 in the morning, would that be agreeable?

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

Mr. PRESSLER

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

Mr. PRESSLER

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

Mr. PRESSLER

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, we are resuming consideration of the telecommunications bill. We had opening [[Page S7943]] statements last night and we urged Senators to bring amendments to the floor. We eagerly are awaiting the many amendments because we only have a certain amount of time and we are urging all offices and all Senators who have amendments to bring them to the floor. We are ready to go, as we have emphasized in our opening speeches last night. Let me just reiterate, I think the movement of this bill is very important to America. It will create an explosion of new jobs, of new devices, and of new activities. I know there are a variety of amendments. We have welcomed them. I am prepared to yield the floor to any other Senator who has statements at this time.

Mr. PRESSLER. If it has not been laid aside, and if it is proper at this point, we will lay that amendment aside so that the Senator from North Dakota can offer his amendment. I ask unanimous consent that the managers' amendment be laid aside.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, we accept the amendment of the Senator from North Dakota on this side of the aisle. I want to commend him for his work on this subject. He is a friend of mine, and an outstanding leader in this area. Let me say that this subject of serving the smaller cities and rural areas is very important. I have spoken frequently on that in our committee. We are prepared to accept this amendment. We urge other Senators with amendments to bring them to the floor. We are ready to go here on the floor.

Mr. PRESSLER. Yes.

Mr. PRESSLER. I urge adoption of the amendment, Madam President.

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. PRESSLER. We will accept this amendment. We commend the Senator from Arizona for his support. Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.