[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 442

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent it be in order for 
the majority leader, after notification of the Democratic leader, to 
turn to S. 442, the Internet tax bill and immediately after the 
reporting by the clerk, the Commerce Committee amendment be agreed to, 
and immediately following that action, the Finance Committee substitute 
be agreed to and considered original text for the purpose of further 
amendments.
  I also ask unanimous consent that, during the Senate's consideration 
of S. 442 or the House companion bill, that only relevant amendments be 
in order.
  Finally, I ask that the Senate proceed to the bill at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). Is there objection?
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. McCAIN. I heard the objection from the Senator from Florida. I 
deeply regret that.
  The Senator from Florida, as I understand it, is insisting on a 
specific result in this legislation. We never do that. The Senator from 
Florida knows that. We don't insist on a specific result.
  We would be more than happy to listen to the amendment of the Senator 
from Florida. We would be glad to debate it. Perhaps I could even 
support it. But, frankly, what the Senator from Florida is doing right 
here--the other 99 Senators are in agreement--by objecting to us moving 
forward to the bill that is vital to the future of the economy of this 
Nation, I think the Senator from Florida takes on a very large 
responsibility.
  I want to tell the Senator from Florida I am going to file cloture 
right now and we are going to have a vote. And I also want to tell the 
Senator from Florida that because of that, we will delay, again, 
consideration of this very important bill. We will move forward. I do 
not understand why the Senator from Florida, after having a commitment 
of mine, that of the Senator from Oregon and everybody else, to give 
the kind of consideration that he deserves, and ample debate, unlimited 
debate on his amendment and a willingness to work with him--because the 
Senator from Florida knows that there is a Senator on this side who 
cannot agree to the language of the amendment that he is insisting on. 
That is what debate is all about.
  We just finished a bill, an omnibus aviation bill, where everybody 
sat down together. The Senator from Oregon was very unhappy with one of 
the results, as were a number of other Senators, including this one. 
But we worked the process.
  So I again urge the Senator from Florida to withdraw his objection, 
especially when faced with the inevitability that this cloture motion 
is going to be agreed to, probably 99 to 1.
  Mr. President, I ask, again, unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the bill at this time.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. GRAHAM. I object.

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