[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11911-S11912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 10 now be 
the pending business, and immediately following the reporting by the 
clerk, the Senate resume H.R. 2431--that is the religious persecution 
bill--and that following the conclusion or yielding back of the time, 
the previous consent governing H.R. 2431, commence. I further ask that 
following the disposition of time on H.R. 2431 this evening, the clerk 
then report H.R. 10, and the Senate then proceed immediately to a 
period for morning business.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. SARBANES. I would like to inquire of the majority leader, I take 
it, then, that it is not the intention of the majority leader to file a 
cloture motion on H.R. 10 this evening.
  Mr. LOTT. It is not my intention to do that.
  Mr. SARBANES. It is, therefore, the intention of the majority leader 
to let this day pass and go over into another day; in other words, we 
lose a day on a cloture motion if one were to be filed.
  Mr. LOTT. We do, because as I have assessed the situation, there are 
enough opportunities for cloture votes and delays that it would take us 
into next week. If you just look at the math, that is where it would 
go. You can go back and examine how we got in this position, and the 
answer is very simple: We have been trying to do other bills.
  The only way we are going to get H.R. 10 now is by concession and by 
consensus, which is quite often the way the Senate works. We are going 
to have to see if we can find a way for Democrats who have worked on 
this bill and Republicans who have worked on it, some who have problems 
with it on both sides, can come together. There is also a concern from 
Secretary Rubin about a provision in the bill. But I would like to get 
it done. But we are not going to get it done by cloture motions. 
Therefore, I have no problem with going over another day and continuing 
to work and hope that we can find a way to come to an agreement on this 
bill.
  Mr. SARBANES. I simply point out to the majority leader that the bill 
came out of the committee 16 to 2; that the relevant cloture vote we 
had where people differed was 88 to 11. There is extremely strong 
support for this legislation. It is obviously being frustrated and 
thwarted by a handful of people.
  It was my concern that the opportunity to file this cloture motion 
not pass. In view of the statement of the majority leader that he has 
no intention to do that, to file the cloture motion, I am not going to 
object to the consent request, and then we move over until tomorrow. I 
wanted to keep this window of opportunity available, and now that I 
know that the majority leader has no intention of availing himself of 
it, I am prepared to agree to this consent request.
  Mr. LOTT. If the Senator from Maryland is trying to get the majority 
leader to take full responsibility for not filing cloture today, I 
accept it. It is my goal to get a bill, and I concluded that another 
cloture motion at this time on this bill is fruitless. I am perfectly 
willing to accept that responsibility.
  Mr. SARBANES. Let me also point out to the majority leader that the 
effort to try to develop accommodations has to be a broad-based effort.
  Mr. LOTT. It surely does.
  Mr. SARBANES. When we come in with 88 people on one side of the 
equation, if the 11 are going to hold us hostage or some of the 11 
hostage--actually the word ``extortion'' was used in another context in 
the debate on the floor of the Senate.
  Mr. LOTT. You wouldn't want to use that word. I think I have a card 
here I can call you on.
  Mr. SARBANES. People are going to be highly resistant, I might say to 
the majority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. I want to remind the Senator from Maryland, I was one of 
the 88, not one of the 11, but the 11 is on both sides of the aisle. We 
are never going to get an agreement until we get the 11 to feel 
comfortable that they have the opportunity that they are entitled to 
under the rules to make their point. It is the wonderful way the Senate 
works.
  Mr. SARBANES. I know, but a lot of us have given at the committee 
over and over again to get the bill where it is.
  Mr. LOTT. That is the price you pay for that wonderful assignment. It 
is a great committee to be on. You get all that good stuff. We did the 
credit union bill this year. A lot of credit goes to everybody for 
that.
  Mr. SARBANES. We did the housing bill.
  Mr. LOTT. Housing bill, you have done a lot of good stuff.
  Mr. SARBANES. A lot of good work.
  Mr. LOTT. I think I want on that committee next year.
  Mr. SARBANES. We would welcome you. You would be a valuable addition

[[Page S11912]]

to the committee, and you can see the inner dynamics of the committee 
that result in the kind of problem we are now facing on the floor of 
the Senate. It would be welcomed for you to be in that cockpit seeing 
what takes place.
  Mr. LOTT. I appreciate that invitation, but I want to assure the 
Senator from Maryland that Senator Daschle and I get to see the 
dynamics of such meetings every day in more ways than you would ever 
want to know.
  (Laughter.)
  Mr. SARBANES. That may be, but I don't think unless you are actually 
there to see it firsthand you can fully appreciate exactly what takes 
place.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. SARBANES. I withdraw my objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I say to 
Senator Nickles, thanks for your diligent work. I say to Senator 
Sarbanes, Senator Gramm and Senator Shelby thanks for your cooperation 
at this time. And we hope we will have it again tomorrow.
  I yield the floor.

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