[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 89 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXTENDING TIME TO FILE FIRST DEGREE 
                          AMENDMENTS TO S. 648

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as all Members are aware, when a cloture 
motion is filed in the Senate, the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture 
rule, require all first-degree amendments must be filed at the desk by 
1 p.m. the day before the cloture vote occurs.
  Last evening, I filed cloture on the substitute amendment to the 
product liability bill. Realizing and observing how upset the 
Democratic leader was when cloture was filed last night, I checked with 
the desk as to exactly how many amendments had been filed to the 
product liability bill by our Democratic colleagues. To my dismay, 
earlier only two had been filed, but still a very small number, and 
only 21 Democratic amendments have been filed, and it is almost 1 p.m., 
the deadline time.
  The Democratic leader stated last evening that many Members on his 
side of the aisle had amendments they wish to offer on this bill. And 
he also stated, ``It is the right of all Senators to fulfill the 
functions of their responsibilities to offer amendments.'' Well, where 
are the amendments? And why have Members on the Democratic side of the 
aisle chosen not to file amendments within the timeframe that is 
outlined under rule XXII?
  Could it be that our colleagues had never been prepared to exercise 
their right to offer amendments when it comes to the legislation? 
Instead, have our colleagues on the other side of the aisle just 
decided they would vote against cloture with the intention of never 
attempting to offer amendments that would have been intended, I am 
sure, to ``improve the bill,'' as Senator Daschle suggested?
  Since there have only been 21 amendments filed, it seems to me that 
maybe our Democratic colleagues are not serious about addressing this 
important issue which is, by the way, a bill that has been laboriously 
worked out. It is a compromise bill. Senator Gorton of Washington, 
Senator Rockefeller of West Virginia, have spent hours, days, months 
working on this. And this legislation has been approved by the 
administration, by the White House. They have indicated they would sign 
it. So why in the world would there not be a serious attempt here to 
pass this legislation?
  But having said all that, I am prepared to offer a consent agreement 
that would extend the filing time for first-degree amendments until 5 
p.m. this afternoon, if that would help accommodate our colleagues on 
the Democratic side or, for that matter, on the Republican side.
  Therefore, I do now ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule 
XXII, that the filing deadline for the first-degree amendments with 
respect to the product liability bill be extended to 5 p.m. this 
afternoon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gregg). Is there objection?
  Mr. BAUCUS. Reserving the right to object, I consulted with my 
Democrat colleagues, knowing this request would come up, and it is our 
belief that the consent should not be granted. Accordingly, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.

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