[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8882-S8883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REFORMS VERSUS ROADBLOCKS
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I have been in some meetings this morning.
Of course, we do not have any more committee hearings going on because
the other side has objected to that. I haven't listened to everything,
but I heard enough to hear my friends on the other side of the aisle
complaining about not moving forward.
So I just believe it is really important to talk a little bit about
the whole idea of what has been going on here now for several months,
where we have been seeking to make some reforms and seeking to move
forward, moving a number of bills, and finding nothing but roadblocks
from the other side of the aisle. It is almost hilarious to hear that
kind of conversation when the facts are that we have had nothing but
roadblocks coming from the other side of the aisle. And it is too bad.
We are down to where we don't have a great deal of time, and the
notion that we continue to bring up the same topics, over and over and
over again, simply because these folks want to make it an issue as
opposed to a solution, frankly, gets pretty redundant and tiresome.
Let me just mention a few of the things specifically that have been
troublesome.
S. 2045, amending the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to
H-1B nonimmigrant aliens: Senator Lott offered, on the 15th of
September, a UC for both sides to bring the bill to the floor; objected
to by Democrats.
S. 2497, the McCain-Lieberman bill dealing with the entertainment
industry's marketing of inappropriate R-rated videos: In response to
the FTC report, Senator Santorum offered a UC to bring it to the floor.
The other side objected.
Four district judges in Illinois and Arizona: Asked to be brought to
the floor; the minority leader objected.
S. 2507, the intelligence authorization: We tried to bring that to
the floor and get a UC; no response from the minority leader.
H.R. 1776, the housing construction bill, with 32 cosponsors,
including a dozen Democrats: The leader requested UC to go to
conference; objected to by that side of the aisle.
H.R. 3615, the Rural Local Broadcast Signal Act, a satellite bill so
we can have local-to-local broadcasting in rural areas: The leader
asked for a UC to go to conference; objected to by the Democrats on
that side of the aisle.
The Social Security and Medicare Safe Deposit Act, which the
President and the other side of the aisle, along with Vice President
Gore, claim they support: The leader asked for a UC September 7 to call
it up. It was the sixth time in the 106th Congress that the Democrats
have blocked the lockbox from coming up.
It takes a lot of nerve to get up and talk about not moving forward
when these are the kinds of things that have actually taken place.
S. 2, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: We spent 2 weeks of
floor time this spring and summer--2 weeks--debating and voting on
amendments. The other side of the aisle has blocked two UCs--including
20 additional amendments--which have kept us from finishing this
measure.
It is really almost laughable to talk about that. What we need to do
is to move forward. What we need to do is get these bills out, have our
disagreements, vote on them, and get the job done that we are here to
do. We tried to do that yesterday; we couldn't get it done.
Let me share with you another batch of information. So far in the
106th Congress well over half the votes cast on amendments are
initiatives from the other side of the aisle; that is, 231 out of 403
rollcall votes. Many of these votes are repetitive votes on their
favorite agenda items which are out
[[Page S8883]]
there more to create an issue than they are to create a solution. And
they say they don't have a voice.
Further, they have continued to block action on important issues for
Americans, including education reform, meaningful tax relief,
protecting Social Security, Medicare. We have pushed for effective
reforms. That side of the aisle has continued to throw up roadblocks.
We are continuing to look to the future and getting these items
accomplished. Unfortunately, our friends continue with the roadblocks.
Total rollcall votes during the 106th Congress, through September 11,
611; rollcall votes on amendments, 403. Those asked for on Democrat-
sponsored amendments, 231; Republican-sponsored amendments, 172.
Votes on the Democrat agenda: Votes to raise taxes or to reduce tax
relief, 55; votes to increase Federal education spending, 35; Federal
funds to hire new teachers as opposed to having local decisions, 9;
Federal funds for school construction as opposed to letting people
decide for themselves, 5; Federal funds for afterschool, 6; votes to
further regulate gun owners, 13. Now, that is an issue that people
disagree on, but how many times can we continue to bring it up? How
many times can we have votes on it? How many times can it be used to
slow down the progress toward getting our job done? Minimum wage
package, 5; the minimum wage package is in a bill they have held up.
This idea of our friends on the other side getting up and talking
about things not happening here is ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous, in
terms of the kinds of issues that have been put up over there as
roadblocks. It is time for us to get on with it. Let's take a look at
what we have before us. Let's have our debate; Let's have our exchange;
and let's vote and move forward.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Fitzgerald). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, what is the pending question before the
Senate?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in morning business.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may proceed
not to exceed 20 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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