[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SENATE WILL ULTIMATELY BE HEARD

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senator from 
Arizona for his comments, for his steadfast efforts and leadership on 
this and, speaking for Senator Daschle who is not here at this moment 
and for the leadership on this side, we would like to make it very 
clear that what Senator McCain has said we are determined to try to 
help effect. We are determined that we will bring back campaign finance 
reform again and again and again until we have the ability to vote up 
or down on either McCain-Feingold or on some measure of full reform. I 
think Senator McCain has appropriately suggested that ultimately the 
will of the Senate can't be held down on a matter like this. Senators 
will have to vote one way or the other in order to make their positions 
clear, and the will of the Senate ultimately will be heard.
  We, on our side, are particularly grateful to Senator Feingold for 
his leadership, but, Mr. President, we regret enormously that the 
American people were not permitted to have one amendment properly voted 
on and debated. Not one. Not once in this important issue, where 88 
percent of the American people believe we ought to have reform, was the 
U.S. Senate, known as the world's greatest deliberative body, able to 
truly deliberate. Some would argue deliberation comes in many forms and 
a filibuster is a form of that deliberation. But everyone knows that a 
majority of this Senate was prepared to vote for this bill as it is 
today. This bill will come back again and again until the Senate has a 
chance to work its will.
  Mr. BOND addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.

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