[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S6131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, this morning, the Senate will be 
in a period for morning business until 11:15 a.m. Following morning 
business, the Senate will resume consideration of the tobacco bill, and 
it is expected that a Republican amendment will be offered regarding 
attorneys' fees. It is hoped that a short time agreement can be reached 
on that amendment so that remaining amendments can be offered and 
debated throughout today's session. At 12 noon, the Senate will proceed 
to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the modified tobacco 
committee substitute. Assuming cloture fails, the Senate will continue 
debate on the tobacco bill. The Senate may also consider any other 
legislative or executive items that may be cleared for action. 
Therefore, rollcall votes are possible throughout today's session of 
the Senate.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Roberts). The Senator from Massachusetts 
is recognized.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I know my colleague wants to address the 
Senate and I will only take a minute on the business side. It is my 
understanding with respect to the tobacco bill, in a discussion with 
the majority leader last night, that there would be a Democratic 
amendment, I believe, at 11:15, with the understanding that the 
attorneys' fees amendment will follow that. I can say to a certainty 
that on the Democratic amendment, we will gladly enter into a time 
agreement. It will not be a long time agreement. So we can anticipate 
moving to the attorneys' fees amendment, hopefully, in the early 
afternoon.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, the last amendment last night 
voted on was a Democratic amendment, and going back and forth, I 
believe the next one will be a Republican amendment. However, the 
chairman is not here. We will check with him, and if an accommodation 
is necessary, we will pursue that.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, let me just say to my friend, that is 
accurate in the sense there was a Democratic amendment. But the 
discussion we had with the majority leader and the manager of the bill 
is the Democratic amendments that have flowed to date were essentially 
responsive amendments on the same subject to the Republican amendment. 
Effectively, there hasn't been a proactive, freestanding Democratic 
amendment. I think that is why the majority leader was happy to say he 
will allow the Democrats to have sort of a substantive amendment of 
their own choosing, and then we can proceed forward. But we can work 
this out. I just wanted to make sure at least that was on the record at 
this time.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I don't suspect that will be a 
problem. We are going to check with the chairman and try and 
accommodate.

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