[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent there be a period of 
morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes 
each between now and 12:30 p.m., with the time equally divided between 
the two leaders. And I ask consent, in order to get some fair debate, 
that the distinguished ranking member of the Finance Committee be 
recognized for the first 10 minutes, Senator Wellstone for the second 
10 minutes, Senator Gramm for the third 10 minutes, and Senator Durbin 
for the fourth 10 minutes.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I just do 
so to inquire of the majority leader about the schedule for the 
remainder of the day. It appears that the only remaining legislative 
item to be taken up today may be the continuing resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Correct.
  Mr. DASCHLE. As I understand it, we do not have an objection to 
taking up the continuing resolution under a voice vote.
  Mr. BUNNING. Yes, we do.
  Mr. DASCHLE. We do have an objection?
  Mr. BUNNING. Yes, we do.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator would yield, as we had 
discussed, we hope when the House does act within the next, hopefully, 
20 or 30 minutes, we would talk further and make some decisions about 
whether or not we would want to modify that continuing resolution in 
any way.
  If we couldn't, of course, then we would see if we could clear it by 
a voice vote. We don't have it done yet, but we haven't gotten to that 
point yet. Within 30 minutes, we hope to get a clarification of when a 
vote would occur or if any modification might be forthcoming.
  I don't want to go too far beyond just saying that right now. Senator 
Daschle and I are exchanging ideas. I do think we have reached a point 
where we need to make some decisions. Senators as well as House Members 
and the administration need to know what to expect. I think, to be 
perfectly honest, nobody wants to step up and say we have to look at an 
alternative. I am prepared to do that. I believe Senator Daschle is 
prepared to join me in that. We ask your indulgence for at east 30 
minutes, and then we will see what we can do at that point.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I amend my request that after Senator 
Durbin, Senator Hutchison be included in the queue.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank my colleagues and yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York is recognized.

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