[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 109 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9509-S9510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE RESCISSIONS BILL

  Mr. DOLE. Let me again state this, so there will not be any 
misunderstanding by the Senators from Illinois and Minnesota.
  The next time we bring up the rescissions bill it will be by a 
unanimous-consent agreement, without any amendments, and with very 
little debate. They can continue to frustrate this Senate on a Friday 
afternoon all year long. That is fine with me, because I have to be 
here anyway.
  I think they are doing a disservice to hundreds of thousands of 
people across America to make a political point. They have that right. 
Everybody makes political points on the Senate floor. And to say they 
are not making a political point, I think, would be a stretch.
  Where was all the debate when the conference report was passed? Where 
has been all the concern in the last few days? These Senators know, as 
well, that this has been undergoing intense scrutiny with the White 
House, the Democratic and Republican leadership, and they finally got 
together. The President says pass it. I read his statements a couple of 
times, the statement of the administration.
  Two Senators can frustrate anything. It is too late to file cloture; 
it is Friday afternoon, which they knew. But that is their right. I do 
not want to take any rights away from anybody. The day may come when 
they are trying to pass something on a Friday and somebody will jump up 
and say they cannot do this. That is the way it goes from time to time.
  So I am disappointed. I apologize that we could not pass this bill. I 
apologize to the many people who will be suffering in the interim 
because of the efforts by our colleagues. But I cannot change that. 
They have every right to do what they have done. They objected to the 
immediate consideration.
  Apparently, they did not really want to vote on the amendments in the 
first place. They had a chance to have a vote on all the amendments. We 
could have had a vote, but after 3 hours of wasted time, they did not 
want to vote and they objected. They have that right.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  Mr. DOLE. I object.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  Mr. DOLE. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk continued with the call of the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I have a question that I would like 
to propound, unless the----
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator cannot conduct debate.
  Mr. DOLE. You cannot do that.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I cannot ask a question because you will not allow 
the quorum call to be called off.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The only question in order is to ask that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I understand that. The majority leader objected to 
that, so I cannot get to my question of the majority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator cannot proceed.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I was just checking. Thank you very much.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will continue to call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk continued with the call of the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, is there any way to inquire----
  Mr. DOLE. Regular order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The only thing in order is for the Senator to 
ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Is there any way to find out when the majority 
leader will not object to the quorum call order being rescinded?
  Mr. DOLE. Regular order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is violating the rules of debate. 
She cannot speak unless the quorum call is rescinded.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I understand, but I was trying to propound a 
question to the Chair. I ask that the quorum call----
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator cannot proceed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will continue to call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk continued with the call of the roll.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, now?
  
[[Page S9510]]

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, regular order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator cannot proceed. The only item in 
order is to ask that the quorum be rescinded.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I would do that. I was asking the 
question, whether now is the time that the motion to rescind the quorum 
call might possibly not be objected to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senator seeking consent to rescind the 
call for the quorum?
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, yes.
  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk continued with the call of the roll.
  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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