[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1957-S1958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  LAUNCHING OUR COMMUNITIES' ACCESS TO LOCAL TELEVISION ACT OF 2000--
                               Continued

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee is 
concerned that some language we took from the Burns amendment, which 
was in the bill last year, might potentially create some problems.
  On Senator Hatch's behalf, I offer an amendment to strike several 
lines from the bill that have to do with an attempt on our part to 
guarantee that we weren't changing communication law. But, as often 
happens, no good deed ever goes unpunished. So we want to strike this.


                           Amendment No. 2902

(Purpose: To strike the provisions relating to retransmission of local 
                     television broadcast stations)

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the pending amendment will 
be laid aside and the clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Texas (Mr. Gramm), for Mr. Hatch, proposes 
     an amendment numbered 2902.

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       On page 49, strike lines 1 through 13 and insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       On page 50, line 23, strike ``10.'' and insert ``9.''.

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, this amendment is a very simple amendment. 
It simply strikes a line in the bill where we were trying to be sure we 
weren't changing communication law. On further reflection, we simply 
concluded that silence is often the best answer on these kinds of 
issues. This amendment would strike that sentence.
  I have not had an opportunity to have anyone on the Democrat side of 
the aisle look at the amendment. I will just leave this amendment 
pending.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S1958]]

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennett). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, it is my understanding the leadership 
plans a cloture vote on the gas tax at some time later today. Is that 
the understanding of the Chair?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture vote has been set to follow the 
final passage of the pending legislation but no later than 6 p.m.

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