March 25, 1980
Page 6463
FEDERAL BUDGET LIMITATION
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, under the order that was entered some time ago, the majority leader was authorized to call up Senate Resolution 380 no later than today, after consultation with the distinguished Republican leader or his designee.
Those consultations have been held and it has been known for days in advance that the resolution would be called up today. I, therefore, exercising the authority under that order, call up Senate Resolution 380.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, morning business is closed, and the clerk will report the resolution.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 380) expressing the sense of the Senate that the first concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 1981 reported by the Committee on the Budget shall limit total budget outlays to 21 percent of the gross national product.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
Mr. MUSKIE addressed the Chair.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Maine.
UP AMENDMENT NO. 1016
(Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that the Committee on the Budget shall report a Federal budget for fiscal year 1981 which is balanced and which reserves any surplus for a tax reduction, and such additional specific reductions, if any, necessary to reduce Federal outlays for fiscal year 1981 to 21 percent of the gross national product)
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask that it be stated.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the amendment.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE) proposes, on behalf of himself and Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD, Mr. CRANSTON, Mr. BAYH, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. RANDOLPH, Mr. HART, Mr. CHURCH, Mr. EXON, Mr. MELCHER, Mr. HEFLIN, Mr. STEWART, Mr. CHILES, Mr. GLENN, Mr. PELL, Mr. MORGAN, Mr. RIBICOFF, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. EAGLETON, Mr. BURDICK, and Mr. STEVENSON, an unprinted amendment numbered 1016:
Strike all after the resolving clause, and insert the following: "That it is the sense of the Senate that the Committee on the Budget shall report a Federal budget for fiscal year 1981 which is balanced in accordance with the mandate of the Congressional Budget adopted pursuant to the Public Debt Limit Act and which reserves any surplus for a tax reduction, and shall also report such additional specific reductions, if any, necessary to reduce Federal outlays for fiscal year 1981 to 21 per centum of the gross national product."
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, will the Senator from Maine yield?
Mr. MUSKIE. Yes.
Mr. BAKER. Who controls the time?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. The mover of the amendment, Mr. MUSKIE, and the manager of the resolution, Mr. ROTH.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, let me assume control for the moment until the Senator from Delaware arrives. I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. President, just for the purposes of clarifying the procedural situation at this moment, I wonder if the distinguished majority leader or the manager of the substitute would explain for the record the time allocation controls that pertain to this matter at this time.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, on the resolution itself, there are 8 hours. And, of course, the time from the resolution can be yielded to any Senator on any amendment or motion.
On any amendment in the first degree, the time is limited to 1 hour. On any amendment in the second degree, the time is limited to 30 minutes. Time on motions, appeals, or points of order, if such is submitted to the Senate, is limited to 20 minutes. And no amendment that is not germane to the resolution as introduced or to a first concurrent resolution on the budget shall be received.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader. I would address only one further inquiry to him. It is my understanding that the 8-hour time limitation on the resolution itself does not encompass the additional time that is allocated for amendments in the first or second degree.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. The Senator is correct.
Mr. BAKER. So it is conceivable that debate on the resolution today and the amendments thereto might extend beyond 8 hours?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes.
Mr. BAKER. But it is the intention of the majority leader to try to conclude this matter on today?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader and I thank the Senator from Maine for permitting me to ask for this procedural clarification.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, may I inquire of the majority leader further? Is there an understanding when the first vote would occur?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. No, there is not an understanding as to when the first vote will occur.
May I say, extraneous from the pending matter, there will be two votes which occur beginning at 2:30 today, back-to-back.
One vote will be on a treaty and one vote will be on a resolution changing the Senate rules. But this would not preclude votes from occurring on the pending business prior to that.
Mr. MUSKIE. May I raise another question
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. May I say one thing further in response to the Senator?
It was said last evening in response to a question that no roll call vote would occur on the pending business before 10:30 this morning.
Mr. MUSKIE. I see the distinguished Senator from Delaware is in the Chamber. It seems to me that he ought to have the opportunity to present his case first before I present a case for the substitute which I have offered. I wonder if we might have an understanding with the Senator from Delaware, if that is his wish, that he might proceed before I begin using time on the amendment. He will be using time on the resolution before we start using time on the amendment.
Mr. ROTH. If the distinguished chairman will yield for a moment
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum and ask unanimous consent that the time be charged to both sides.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, it is my understanding the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee has offered a substitute resolution. Is that correct?
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is correct.
Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I would suggest to the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee that I would like to first present the case for the Roth resolution. There are several Senators who will speak on this matter. Will that be satisfactory to the Senator?
Mr. MUSKIE. There might be some point before all of the Senator's colleagues complete their presentation that I might want to present this option.
Mr. ROTH. That will be satisfactory. Why do I not make an opening statement, if that will be satisfactory, and then we can play it by ear?
Mr. MUSKIE. That will be fine.
Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask that I be informed when 10 minutes have expired.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is recognized for 10 minutes.