[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LEGISLATIVE LINE-ITEM VETO ACT OF 1995--CONFERENCE REPORT

  The Senate continued with consideration of the conference report.
  Mr. DOLE. I understand the distinguished Senator from West Virginia 
is on his way to the floor. Hopefully, we can have the agreement before 
we commence the debate on the line-item veto because debate is 10 hours 
in the agreement. We would like to have it immediately start taking 
affect. If we speak for an hour or two beforehand, that would be an 
additional time.
  The Senator from New Mexico will be here, as will others who are 
interested in this issue. Hopefully, we will not use the full 10 hours, 
have a vote early this evening, and then take up the farm bill 
conference report tonight.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, do I understand that we are awaiting the 
approval of the other side for the unanimous consent?
  Mr. DOLE. Senator Byrd.
  Mr. McCAIN. If I could, Mr. Leader, while we are waiting for Senator 
Byrd, I express my appreciation for the work of Senator Lott, who 
brought together some very different views on this issue. He did, I 
think, a magnificent job in reconciling the differences that we had on 
this side of the aisle.

  I also want to thank the Senators from Alaska and New Mexico who 
obviously have a very deep and abiding interest, given their 
responsibilities as chairmen of the respective committees. Again, I 
also thank you for your leadership in making this nearly come to 
reality.
  I understand that Senator Byrd will have certain motions to be made 
on this issue.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, before we enter into the time agreement, 
while Senator McCain and Senator Coats are on the floor, I want to 
congratulate them. This has been a long and arduous effort on both 
their parts. They have been single minded and resourceful about wanting 
to get line-item veto in as part of the legislation that Congress 
passed, and pass on some additional authority to the President.
  I think the bill we have come up with, while there are some 
compromises from their original stand and certainly some from the 
original stand of the bill that left the Senate floor, I think we have 
a good bill. I think history is going to be made some time before too 
late in the evening, and it will be passed here in the Senate.
  I think it is a well-rounded bill. It is a little broader than the 
original concept of line-item veto, but overall, I extend my hearty 
congratulation and most sincere feelings to them about their efforts, 
the two Senators who have led this cause.
  I also want to comment on what our distinguished whip did. I want to 
say thanks to Senator Lott. It was not as easy as some think to put 
this together. He brought us together. I want to thank our 
distinguished majority leader because he actually said to the whip, 
``Let's get it done.'' Our distinguished whip takes that kind of a 
challenge as a serious one, and it did not take too long for us to get 
the job done.
  With that, until Senator Byrd arrives, unless someone else wants the 
floor, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk 
proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I understand that Senator Snowe from 
Maine wants to address the Senate with reference to the death of 
Senator Muskie.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York is recognized.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I will take just a moment of the 
Senate's time to prepare for a general debate. I ask unanimous consent 
that I may proceed for 4 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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