[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17476]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT STALLING

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, earlier today the distinguished Senator 
from Idaho, Senator Craig, came to the floor to respond to an article 
that appeared in the newspaper, USA Today. I want to take just a moment 
to respond to the article, as well as to some of his comments. He 
responded, I think, as I would if I had read the article. It is 
entitled, ``Senate Democratic Leader Plans Stalling Tactics,'' and 
makes reference to the fact that we are running out of time at the end 
of the year and it claims to know that I have a simple strategy for 
winning the final negotiations over spending bills--and I am now 
reading from the article: ``Stall until the Republicans have to cave in 
because they can't wait any longer to recess,'' and noted there are a 
lot more vulnerable Republican Senators than there are Democratic 
Senators.
  As often is the case--I don't blame this reporter, and I am not sure 
I know who the reporter is--I think that was taken from a comment that 
I made in my daily press conference, where I simply noted that those 
who were in the majority oftentimes are the ones who pay a higher price 
the longer we are in session, the closer we get to the election, noting 
that we have experienced that rude realization ourselves on at least 
two occasions, in 1980 and 1994, and that the longer one goes into the 
campaign season while we are still in session, the more it requires 
that Senators remain present here in Washington and not available for 
the demands of a rigorous campaign.
  That was all I said. I made no reference to our desire to stall 
anything. In fact, it is not. The reason I have come to the floor is to 
emphasize our strong hope that we do not see any stalling whatsoever; 
that we move on with the remaining appropriations bills. Eleven of them 
have yet to be signed into law. I note for the record that two have not 
even left subcommittee. The District of Columbia appropriations bill 
and the HUD-VA bill are still pending in the subcommittee.
  We finished our work on the energy and water appropriations bill this 
week. It would be my hope that we could go to the only other pending 
appropriations bill on the calendar, which is the Commerce-State-
Justice bill, next week. I do not know that is the intention of the 
majority leader, but clearly it is a bill that must be considered and 
completed at the earliest possible date.
  Our hope is that as we work through these appropriations bills, we 
will have the opportunity to work through other pieces of unfinished 
business. We are hopeful we can make real progress, maybe as early as 
next week, on the minimum wage bill. Our hope is that we can finish our 
work next week on the legislation granting permanent normal trade 
relations to China. Our hope is that we can actually finish a Patients' 
Bill of Rights bill and maybe gun safety legislation. Our hope is that 
we can deal with the prescription drug benefit bill. There is an array 
of pieces of the unfinished agenda that we would love to be able to 
address--education issues having to do with reducing the number of 
students in every class, hiring teachers, afterschool programs, school 
construction. Those issues have to be addressed at some point.
  Whether it is authorizing or appropriating, we remain ready and 
willing to work with our colleagues to accomplish as much as possible. 
I do not know whether or not it is conducive to that goal not to have 
votes on Fridays or Mondays. It seems to me, with all the work that 
remains, Senators should be here casting their votes and participating 
fully in debates that will be required ultimately if we are going to 
complete our work on time.
  I come to the floor this afternoon only to clarify the record and 
ensure that if anybody has any doubt, let me address that doubt 
forthrightly. We want to finish our work. We want to work with our 
Republican colleagues. We have no desire to stall anything. Our hope is 
that we can finish on time and complete all 13 appropriations bills no 
later than the first of October. There is no need for a continuing 
resolution. We can complete our work in the next 3 weeks. That is our 
desire, and that certainly will be our intent as we make decisions with 
regard to what agreements we can reach on schedule, as well as on 
substance, in the coming days.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Frist). The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under consideration is H.R. 4444 and the Smith 
amendment No. 4129.
  Mr. LEAHY. I ask unanimous consent to proceed as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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