October 9, 1978
Page 34726
Mr. METZENBAUM I want to make it clear, I will object to any amendments coming up, I will suggest the absence of a quorum, and until such time as it is made possible for those of us who have a concern with respect to pending amendments to obtain time, adequate time, in order to provide debate on the measures.
Therefore, I serve notice I expect to be able to stand on the floor and read an amendment and debate it, and argue against it, but not to go on bended knee to try to get 2 or 3 minutes from somebody.
Therefore, I will object to the Senator from Rhode Island having unanimous consent, unless somebody can provide a procedure that the Senator from Wisconsin and the Senator from Ohio can at least have 30 minutes of the remaining time available for the purpose of adequate debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
The Senator has some time left. Who yields time?
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. President, I yield 1 minute to the Senator from Rhode Island — I withdraw that.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.
Mr. MUSKIE Mr. President, would the Senator repeat his offer? I may be able to accommodate him, if I understand his request.
Mr. METZENBAUM I am requesting that the Senator from Wisconsin and the Senator from Ohio, who have indicated a concern about some of the amendments, be accorded 30 minutes of time on our own so that we not go on bended knee regularly to try to get 2 or 3 minutes.
If the Senator from Maine can allot 30 minutes of his time to us, or the Senator from Louisiana can, then I have no objection to proceeding forward. But I do think the procedure is an incongruous one at this time.
Several Senators addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine has the floor.
Mr. MUSKIE I yield
Mr. PROXMIRE. I do not think it is necessary for the Senator to yield time, if we can have an understanding these amendments can be called up, as they have been all morning, and discussed, but not voted on. That is what concerns us, having a vote without an opportunity to cross- examine and discuss and debate, as we should, so we understand what we will vote on on these amendments. That is what we are really concerned about.
So, if the Senator from Maine yields to the Senators to discuss them, that is fine, as long as we do not have a vote and are not precluded from discussing in the future before there is a vote on the amendment.
Mr. MUSKIE. I yield to the Senator from Idaho.
Mr. CHURCH. I would like to concur in what the distinguished Senator from Wisconsin has said.
I have an amendment relating to the present tax deferral on foreign-earned profits. I would like an opportunity to lay down the case for that amendment, even though I am quite willing to vote on it later today. But I think the procedure should accommodate all Senators who would like to take this opportunity to make their arguments for or against amendments to be voted on later.
Mr. MUSKIE. May I say to the Senator that, however, so far as the nongermane amendments, which are the principal subject of the discussion this morning, are concerned, I have no further need for time at the moment. I may have,however, as the parliamentary situation unfolds.
I want the Senators to understand that I would like to have the floor, but I would be willing — how much time do I have left, Mr. President?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine has 62 minutes.
Mr. MUSKIE. I would be willing to make half of that time available for the purposes that we have all been discussing here, provided it is understood just amongst us, as Senators, in the spirit of comity, that if I needed to get a:cess to the floor, or as the parliamentary situation unfolds, that I may be able to make that attempt.
Mr. LONG. How much time do I have remaining, Mr. President?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana has 24 minutes left.
Mr. LONG. Some of that time — say, 8 of the 24 minutes — I will make available for that purpose, too.
The parliamentary situation that exists at this moment is that any Senator can prevent any amendment that is offered from coming to a vote. All he has to do is to insist on his rights. He can suggest the absence of a quorum, if he wishes, or he can make the point that he is not willing for the Senate to vote on it, and it will not come to a vote. So no amendment can be agreed to, under the existing parliamentary situation, if any Senator does not want us to vote on it.
In a sense, we are acting by unanimous consent, to the extent that any Senator here has it completely within his power to say that there will not be a vote on any amendment that comes up. But it would be well if we could dispose of some of the nongermane amendments during this period; because once cloture is voted, they will not be in order, unless by unanimous consent.
Mr. METZENBAUM. The Senator fromLouisiana and the Senator from Maine indicate that there will be adequate time for debate, and they are indicating in connection with the Melcher amendment that it should go to a vote. I was thinking about moving to lay it on the table, which I had no desire to do. I did not want to suggest the absence of a quorum. In view of the statements by the Senator from Maine and the Senator from Louisiana, if the Senator from Rhode Island cares to offer his amendment now, I will not object.
Mr. HANSEN. I yield 1 minute to the Senator from Rhode Island.