[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE ENERGY BILL

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I concur with the statement of the 
majority whip. I look forward to, hopefully, moving with some dispatch 
on the energy bill. There are probably a few more contentious issues, 
as you know: Electricity, certainly ANWR, CAFE, renewables. So we have 
our work cut out for us. I encourage Members to try to recognize that 
it is very important we have an energy bill and we get it in 
conference.
  I communicate to the majority whip, perhaps he can enlighten us at a 
later time if indeed campaign finance reform is going to come into play 
and delay us. Perhaps he can do that at such time as he is able to give 
us some idea when that might occur. I assume that would not necessarily 
take us off the bill.
  Mr. REID. If the Senator will yield, Senator Daschle and Senator Lott 
met today with some of us, and it is believed that the campaign finance 
matter can be resolved in as little as 3 hours, to complete everything 
within that period of time, and send it to the House. That certainly 
isn't done yet. Senator Daschle has asked for an agreement to be 
entered in the Record tomorrow in that regard. If that were the case, 
it would temporarily slow down this bill, but that is all.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I appreciate that. I must say, I am pleased with the 
optimism shown by the majority whip. Perhaps to finish in 3 hours would 
be a record. Let's work towards it.
  Mr. President, I am going to speak in morning business for 10 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.

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