November 8, 1979
Page 31659
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from West Virginia.
Mr. McCLURE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment of the Senator from West Virginia be temporarily laid aside and that the Senator from Virginia be permitted to offer an amendment.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, was I not recognized? I tried to get recognition before final action on the Dole amendment. It may have serious budget implications which I thought needed to be discussed. As I was hearing the figures it was apparent that the Senate was moving toward a vote, and I just want to find out what the parliamentary situation is on the Dole amendment.
Mr. McCLURE. The Dole amendment has been agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Dole amendment has been agreed to.
Mr. MUSKIE. I am sorry to hear that. I came off the floor just momentarily. This may be a real budget buster that we just approved, and I merely want to inquire.
Mr. McCLURE. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
Mr. MUSKIE: Yes, I yield.
Mr McCLURE. Mr. President, I wonder if the. Senator from Maine might be accommodated by setting aside the action by which the Senate adopted the Dole amendment in order to permit this discussion to take place prior to the consideration of the vote. Would the Senator from Kansas object to that?
Mr. DOLE. I do not think the Senator from Kansas objects because I know the Senator from Maine is going to make a point that is probably worth listening to. But I only say before that that we discussed with the distinguished floor manager, who had agreed after the motion to table failed, that he would not ask for the yeas and nays.
Mr. MUSKIE. I understand that, may I say to the Senator. I simply should have been on the floor. I understand that, too.
Mr. DOLE. I am willing to vacate the action. I have been here long enough to respect my colleagues, and I am very pleased to set aside the action taken and let the Senator from Maine proceed without any prejudice.
Mr. McCLURE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the action of the Senate in adopting the Dole amendment and having tabled the motion to reconsider to be set aside, and that the Dole amendment therefore be the pending business before the Senate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, may I have Mr. McCLURE's attention? May I have a quorum call for just a couple minutes so that I can get my facts straight? Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, will the Senator from Maine permit us to set aside the amendment and then move on to another. I ask unanimous consent that we temporarily set aside the embattled Dole-Bradley amendment and move on to something else.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Chair understands that this would also require setting aside the amendment of the Senator from West Virginia.
Mr. McCLURE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that that be done, temporarily.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.