[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMPLETING THE WORK OF THE SENATE

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I understand we are about to recess for 
the day. I want to discuss for just a moment, if I may, my observations 
about the week and the lack of any activity or communication with the 
Democratic caucus. I am told that the majority leader has indicated to 
his caucus members that there won't be a vote tomorrow and that the 
vote will be postponed on the Agriculture appropriations bill until 
Thursday.
  I am surprised by that announcement, first, because I had not been 
forewarned or informed in any way that this would be the schedule for 
the week. I also am disappointed because I have indicated to a lot of 
people that they needed to ensure they would be here tomorrow at 11:30. 
They have all made plans accordingly. A lot of people have arranged 
their entire week around the fact that tomorrow at 11:30 there would be 
a vote. I am told that our Republican colleagues may simply go into a 
quorum call at some point and force the Senate into a vote on Thursday, 
which is, of course, their right. We will insist on a vote on 
adjournment tomorrow. There will be a vote tomorrow.
  We think we ought to be here, working, resolving the outstanding 
differences. The longer we are gone, the less likely it is we will 
finish our work. It is that simple. How many days do we have to go with 
absolutely no business on the Senate floor? We could be taking up an 
array of issues. We could be taking up unfinished business that begs 
our consideration. Yet we sit day after day holding hands and wondering 
when, if ever, we will adjourn sine die. This isn't the way to run the 
Senate.
  At the very least, there ought to be a minimum amount of 
communication between Republicans and Democrats with regard to the 
schedule. To read an announcement that there will be a vote 
postponement and not to give forewarning to all of our colleagues who 
are making travel plans is, again, just another departure from what I 
consider to be good will and common sense.
  We will delay the vote at least until 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon 
because of the Cole funeral. We understand there will be Members who 
need to travel to Virginia for that very important matter. We will 
delay the vote until at least after 4 o'clock. I want colleagues to 
know there will be a vote tomorrow and we will force that vote. We will 
continue to force votes to keep people here to do what they are 
supposed to do.
  I have also just been in consultation with a number of our colleagues 
from the White House, and they have indicated they will begin insisting 
on much shorter continuing resolutions, 2 or 3 days at the maximum. I 
hope the President will veto anything longer than a 3-day CR. Why? 
Because it is ridiculous to be taking 7-day CRs, leaving 5 days for 
campaigning and 2 days for work--if that. We should be working 7 days 
with a 7-day CR. We should be finishing the Nation's business with the 
CR. To give every single candidate, whoever it is, the opportunity to 
campaign while leaving the people's business for whenever they can get 
around to it and delay it to another occasion when it is more 
convenient for them to come back is unacceptable, inexcusable, and will 
not be tolerated.
  I put our colleagues on notice that in whatever limited way we can 
influence the schedule, we intend to do so. That will at least require 
perhaps a little more consultation but, at the very least, a little 
more forewarning to all colleagues with regard to the schedule and what 
it is we are supposed to be doing here.
  Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. DASCHLE. I am happy to yield to the Senator.
  Mr. REID. I ask the Democratic leader if he has ever seen in his many 
years in the Congress, both the House and the Senate, the casual 
attitude, with so few appropriations bills having been passed? We have 
less than 3 weeks left until the elections of this cycle, and we are 
here doing nothing. Has the Senator ever experienced anything such as 
this?
  Mr. DASCHLE. I have seen recesses that are more productive than what 
we have experienced since we started passing CRs. These recesses, as I 
like to call them--7 days of continuation of a resolution, and then 2 
days, if that, of work, maybe 1 day of work--are mind boggling.
  There ought to be some urgency here. We ought to express the same 
level of urgency that a continuing resolution implies. But I don't see 
any urgency. I see no sense of determination to try to finish our work. 
If we take a poll of where our colleagues are today, they are cast out 
over all 50 States, with very little appreciation of the need to finish 
our work, to come back and do what we are supposed to do.
  (Mr. ROBERTS assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. DASCHLE. I know the Presiding Officer is required to move on and 
is being replaced again by a very distinguished Presiding Officer from 
Kansas, our colleague, Pat Roberts, but I appreciate very much the 
question posed by the distinguished assistant Democratic leader.
  Mr. REID. If I could ask the Senator one more question; that is, I 
don't know what will happen this weekend, but I can only speak for 
myself and a number of other Senators with whom I have had the 
opportunity to speak on the phone and in person today. We should be 
working this weekend. For us now to not have votes until late Wednesday 
or maybe even Thursday, and to take Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and maybe 
Monday off? I want the leader to know that there are a number of us on 
this side who feel the urgency is here; we should press forward and 
work through the weekend.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Let me respond to the distinguished Senator from Nevada. 
First, I would like to see if we could work on Tuesday. I would like to 
see us work on Wednesday. But as he has noted, given the urgency of 
completing our work, Saturday and perhaps even Sunday would be a real 
departure from current practice. But just working on the weekdays of 
the week would be a startling revelation for some of our colleagues.
  I think it is time we get the job done. It is time we recognize how 
important it is we finish our work. It is time we bring people back. 
Let's keep people here. Let's require they negotiate. Let's work and 
get our business done before we have to continue this charade that 
seems to be a common practice of being in session but doing no work.
  I yield the floor and 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.
  Mr. BYRD. I ask unanimous consent that further actions under the 
quorum call be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator is recognized.

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