[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 115 (Thursday, September 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8509-S8510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. The Senate is going to vote on Timothy Corrigan to be a 
district judge for the middle district of Florida. Following 
disposition of that nomination, we will go to the Interior bill; that 
is, the pending Craig amendment. The Dodd amendment also has been 
offered. We hope there can be some resolution of the forest amendment. 
If we could do something about the fire suppression amendments that are 
around, the Craig amendment and there is another to be offered, we 
could resolve this bill quickly. It appears at this stage that has not 
been done yet.
  After 2 o'clock, we hope there will be a couple of back-to-back 
votes. They have been cleared on this side and tentatively cleared on 
the other side to vote on the Thompson amendment and also on the 
Hollings amendment. That has not quite been done yet, but Members 
should understand there very possibly could be votes at 2 o'clock 
today.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
  Mr. REID. I am happy to yield.
  Mr. CRAIG. I think the leader has certainly appropriately explained 
where we are with the Craig-Domenici amendment and our efforts. We have 
met consistently over the last several days with colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to see if we could strike a bipartisan agreement. At 
this time we are working with Senator Feinstein and Senator Wyden to 
see if we can come together so they can come to your caucus to 
determine whether we can pick up support in a bipartisan way.
  We would like to have the remainder of the day to work. At the same 
time, I recognize the frustration holding up the Interior 
appropriations bill for this purpose. I think both the Senator and I 
recognize the critical character of what we are trying to do here--or 
the nature of it--in resolving this issue. If you can give us a little 
more flexibility, I think at some point--probably by the end of the 
day--we will know whether we can or cannot go any further.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is really a waste of the Senate's time to 
debate his amendment today and, further, we pretty well know the 
respective positions. Senator Byrd will be here to manage the bill this 
morning. I know he has an amendment to offer, as others do. Maybe there 
could be an agreement made to set aside the Senator's amendment, 
recognizing that it would be the matter before the Senate at any time 
you call it. We will try to work on something like that.
  Mr. CRAIG. I appreciate the Senator saying that. I am certainly 
willing to look at that and allow other amendments that the chairman 
would think are appropriate to move on this amendment--to move without 
it being an obstruction.

[[Page S8510]]

  The Senator is right, this issue is defining it. I will probably want 
to speak on it, and others may want to do the same. We have at least a 
2-hour timeframe to get some work done. I hope we can do it.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I didn't mean to say that anybody speaking 
on the amendment is a waste of time. I meant to say there is no need to 
be speaking unnecessarily when we can do other things. If the Senator 
or people who oppose his amendment want to speak, that will be helpful 
to the Senate. What I am saying to the Senator from Idaho is, you don't 
need to maintain the floor to protect your rights, nor do we. I have 
received calls, as has the majority leader, from some Democratic 
Senators who believe there may be some ability to work out a 
compromise.
  Mr. CRAIG. Good. I thank the Senator for saying that. I did not take 
that characterization in any critical way.

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