[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LEGISLATION ON AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, originally I had thought that at this point 
the Senate would grant a unanimous consent that would in effect make 
null and void the precedent set in March of 1995 with respect to 
legislation on an appropriations bill. Having spoken with the 
Democratic leader, we both feel, now, that the Senate would be better 
served by conducting a rollcall vote that would overturn the precedent.
  Needless to say, this vote would occur at the first opportunity the 
Senate has during the appropriations process this year, at least we 
think that would be the appropriate time for it to occur. The 
Democratic leader has indicated to me that he would support such an 
action in the early summer of this year as we begin the appropriations 
process, and I look forward to his cooperation at that time, when we 
have the vote which would reinstate the point of order with respect to 
legislation on an appropriations bill.
  I believe, and I think the Democratic leader would agree, that the 
process has been abused in recent months. There seems to be a growing 
use of this opportunity, and, in some of the discussions that we had at 
the end of the session last year, I believe that point was made by the 
Senator from South Dakota and perhaps the Senator from West Virginia. I 
think it was an unintentioned precedent that was set. I do not think it 
is in the best interests or the long-term interests of the Senate. I 
would like for us to preserve rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the 
Senate. I think the Senate would be better served if we would do that, 
preserve that rule. So we will look for the opportunity, the best 
opportunity we can find, to consider changing back that precedent.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader is recognized.
  Mr. DASCHLE. The overturning of the Chair, back in March 1995, had 
far-reaching consequences, as the majority leader has indicated. By 
overturning the Chair, the Senate no longer had the legislation on 
appropriations point of order to keep legislative riders from being 
added to crucial appropriations bills. Many on this side of the aisle 
believe the point of order should be restored. However, we also believe 
that this situation should be remedied in the same way that it was 
imposed on the Senate; that is, by rollcall vote. So I intend to work 
with the majority leader to see if we can, by rollcall vote, restore 
this point of order at some point in the early months of the 105th 
Congress.
  I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

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