[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning, the Senate will be in a period 
for morning business until 12:30 p.m. Following morning business, the 
Senate can be expected to consider any legislative or Executive 
Calendar items cleared for action, although I don't expect any items to 
be cleared today. Votes are not anticipated during Saturday's session 
of the Senate, and it is expected that the Senate will not be in on 
Sunday, but we will be in Monday afternoon at a time we will discuss 
with the Democratic leadership.
  During Friday's session, the Senate passed a continuing resolution 
allowing Government to operate until midnight Monday. So it will be 
anticipated that by Monday afternoon, we will have agreement on an 
omnibus appropriations bill or we need to consider another short-term 
continuing resolution.
  Negotiations are ongoing at this time with regard to a number of 
issues, including the tax extender issue, a number of authorizations 
and appropriations issues, all of which could end up in the omnibus 
appropriations bill. Of course, there is a possibility on Monday, or at 
some point, some of the bills that are being discussed in connection 
with the omnibus appropriations bill might move separately. One example 
is the Treasury-Postal Service conference report. If we can get an 
agreement in the omnibus bill on some of the issues involved in that 
bill, that became controversial, if we get that worked out, we can move 
the bill freestanding, but all of that is in the process of being 
discussed right now.
  We will update our colleagues as progress is being made. I think that 
progress is occurring. A lot of negotiations are going on this morning 
and will continue throughout the afternoon. We have had meetings 
between the congressional leadership and the White House this morning. 
We expect to meet again at 5 o'clock this afternoon to get an 
assessment of where we are. We are getting Senators and House Members, 
Democrats and Republicans, involved in all those negotiations.

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