[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S12543]]
                          ABOLISH SECRET HOLDS

  Mr. SPECTER. I compliment our colleagues, Senator Grassley and 
Senator Wyden, for their initiative in moving to end the practice of a 
hold. For those watching, if anyone, on C-SPAN2 at the moment, a hold 
is a Senate procedure which is secret, where the Senator says that 
matter may not move without notifying me. The final days of the session 
are sufficient to stop any action on an individual by a statement that 
there be insistence on debate, where there is no time for votes, or 
when we are not having them, as we have not had any for the past 
several days.
  I intend to join Senator Grassley and our Republican caucus to try to 
end this pernicious practice. It simply ought not to prevail in an open 
society and in an open setting.
  If someone has an objection to some individual or to some bill, I 
think it only right that the individual stand up and state the 
objection. I do thank my colleagues who had objected to Judge Massiah-
Jackson for being forthright in discussing the matter with me, and I 
understand an honest difference of opinion. I respect that difference 
of opinion. I don't agree with it, but I do respect it, so long as you 
have an opportunity to discuss the matter, to find out what is 
happening and we can try to do something about it.

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