[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, I know 
there is a lot of interest in trying to determine what the schedule 
will be for the balance of the day and perhaps even the weekend.
  It is obvious because of the feelings of the Senator from Nevada, 
Senator Reid, with regard to the Treasury and Postal Service 
appropriations conference report, that he does not intend to allow the 
Senate to have a vote on the conference report itself anytime soon.
  Therefore, as we approach the end of this session, we will probably 
have a vote, if we can get some accommodation here--I think we may--
within a couple of hours, on or in relation to the bankruptcy bill. So 
we should expect another recorded vote in about 2 hours. We will need, 
hopefully, to get that locked in here in the next few minutes. The main 
point is we will have one more vote.
  Then, other than unanimous consent requests or voice votes, the only 
votes we would expect for the balance of this year would be on a 
continuing resolution, if necessary, and the omnibus appropriations 
bill.
  Now, I will need to confer further with Senator Daschle. We will 
certainly keep Members informed as to what the schedule may be. 
Negotiations are continuing with regard to all of the different issues 
that are pending on the omnibus appropriations bill. We expect to work 
this weekend. We hope we will have this completed to possibly vote on 
Monday. If that is not possible, we will let Members know as soon as 
some determination is made. For now, we will expect a vote in a couple 
of hours, and then we would go to the vote on the bankruptcy bill. That 
would be it as far as recorded votes for tonight.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Will the majority leader will yield?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I have been getting questions about what 
our intentions are with regard to a new CR. My understanding is that we 
would be contemplating a CR that would take us at least through Monday.
  Mr. LOTT. That's correct. We have discussed that with administration 
officials this morning. They indicated that they understood it was just 
a physical problem in terms of getting final agreements and getting 
paperwork ready, and a short-term CR would be no problem from their 
viewpoint. I discussed that with you. We anticipate a CR that would 
take us until Monday at midnight. So there would be no question that we 
are still working, and there is no threat of a Government shutdown, 
while we continue to count on our appropriators to do their work, and 
we hope to get it completed this weekend.
  Mr. LEAHY. Will the leader yield for a question?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I tell my friend from Mississippi, we have 
on the calendar 22 Federal judges pending, plus another 5 or 6 court of 
claims. Can the distinguished leader give us any advice on what might 
happen?
  Mr. LOTT. I have been working diligently to get some of the more 
controversial judges done. We did have a couple votes. I was trying to 
get Paez done today. The time is going to be consumed by reading the 
Treasury/Postal Service conference report and now the appearance of 
having to read the Bankruptcy Reform conference report. So that has 
been pushed aside. I tried to move three nominations last night. It was 
objected to. We are in the usual last days of the session where 
everybody is holding this one on the basis of that one. I think where 
we are is, over the next few days as we make progress, if we can get 
agreements on some things, then we will probably get agreements on all 
things. They are all interrelated. We will have to see how that plays 
out.
  Mr. LEAHY. I am prepared to pray and consult with the distinguished 
leader.
  Mr. LOTT. I appreciate that attitude of the Senator from Vermont. He 
has been very helpful, and he continues to remind me of the need for 
these judges.
  Mr. CRAIG. Will the leader yield for a moment?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes.

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