[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BANKRUPTCY CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, sometimes we use morning business to 
have a chance to speak about legislation we introduce. Sometimes we use 
morning business to make a plea to colleagues. Sometimes we use morning 
business to convey a message. I want to convey a message to some 
Senators about conference reports and the way we have been conducting 
our business.
  Right now with the conference reports--and I am specifically talking 
about the bankruptcy bill--we don't have a conference committee. We 
have a shadow committee because Democratic Senators are not involved at 
all in the deliberations. There are some rumors going around in the 
Senate that Republicans will basically reach an agreement on the 
conference report on bankruptcy. Democrats will not be involved in this 
deliberation at all. So we have not had a conference committee meeting. 
We will know what is in that conference report when it is on our desk.
  That conference report dealing with bankruptcy, believe it or not, 
American public, could be put into an unrelated conference report such 
as a conference report dealing with crop insurance. There is no longer 
any scope of conference rule so it can be completely unrelated. Again, 
that is a new way of doing business in the Senate. My argument is that 
is no way to do business in the Senate.
  I believe the minority should be involved in the conference. That is 
a real conference. I do not believe the way to do business is for 
Democrats to find out what is in the bill when it is put on our desk. I 
certainly don't think this bankruptcy bill --which is so harsh and so 
egregious in its effect on the most vulnerable citizens in the country, 
while basically calling for no accountability or responsibility on the 
part of the big credit card companies--should be put into an unrelated 
conference report such as one dealing with crop insurance.
  I use my time as a Senator today to say to Senators that if that 
happens, and I hope it won't, if that should happen tomorrow, for 
example, when we are supposed to go on recess, I think that would be 
outrageous. I will oppose it. I will speak out against it and do 
everything I can to block it. We would be here for days. I think there 
are other colleagues who will be also outraged, especially at this 
effort to put a shadow conference report on bankruptcy, with Democrats 
not even being involved--and all the reports are that the bill is 
getting harsher and harsher, not better--into an unrelated conference 
report with a day to go before we are supposed to go into recess. If 
that happens, I want to be clear, I don't intend to be jammed. I do not 
intend to roll over on it. I intend to speak out against it. I intend 
to point out to the American people all the ways in which this is 
egregious legislation and the impact it will have on them and their 
families. That will take time. I think other Senators will join me.

  I hope we do not conduct our business that way in the Senate. I hope 
I do not have to do that. I hope, instead, we will do what we need to 
do with the legislative branch and with judicial nominations, with the 
nomination of Brad Smith, have those votes, get onto other work, but 
not have last minute efforts to sort of jam legislation into unrelated 
legislation and attempt to ram it through here without the deliberation 
and without the discussion.
  I do not think that is the Senate at its best. I certainly, as a 
Senator from Minnesota, cannot represent people in my State and people 
in the country that way, and I will not. I will challenge it. So I hope 
it does not come to that.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is my understanding we have until 10:30 
in morning business on the Democratic side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

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