[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1830-S1831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2285

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have a unanimous-consent request which I 
have communicated to Senator Daschle. He is here to respond. Before I 
propound it, I will say this does have to do with the issue of gasoline 
taxes, and it is an effort to get a process started so we can have a 
discussion and debate about votes on this issue.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now turn to Calendar No. 473, 
S.

[[Page S1831]]

2285, regarding gas taxes, and that following the reporting of the 
bill, there be 4 hours equally divided for debate under control of the 
two leaders or their designees. I further ask unanimous consent that no 
amendments or motions be in order and, following the use or yielding 
back of time, the bill be advanced to third reading and passage occur, 
all without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first, 
this bill has never been in committee. It has not had the opportunity 
afforded most legislation to be considered, have hearings, have people 
come forth and talk about the implications of eliminating the gas tax. 
Normally bills go through committee, and then they come to the floor. 
That is No. 1.
  No. 2, what kind of a debate would one have when no amendments are 
made available? I cannot imagine that on an issue of this import we 
would want to accelerate the debate, accelerate the consideration, and 
prevent Senators from offering amendments and other ideas.
  For those reasons, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I regret the objection from the minority 
leader, but I understand. This agreement would allow the Senate to pass 
and send a message to all Americans that we are trying to do what we 
can in the short term to alleviate the rising gas prices all Americans 
are paying at the pumps.
  I would not suggest for a moment that this is the long-term solution, 
and I should emphasize, this legislation would allow for the suspension 
of the 4.3-cents-a-gallon gas tax for the remainder of the year, with a 
trigger device that says that if the average price nationwide reaches 
$2, then there will be a gas tax holiday for the remainder of the year 
for the full 18.4 cents a gallon.
  It is pretty simple and straightforward. There would be time for 
debate, but I understand.
  We will get the process started, and we will see how it develops in 
terms of the debate and what votes will occur in order for us to start 
this process, which looks like we will have to go through a motion to 
proceed to invoke cloture on the bill and then there will be subsequent 
votes.
  In order for this to be considered in a timely fashion, which could 
take as long as a week or two, I thought we needed to get it started.

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