[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3780]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   PRESIDENT BUSH'S NEW JERSEY VISIT

  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, yesterday, I joined with my distinguished 
colleague from New Jersey, Senator Torricelli, in welcoming the 
President of the United States to our State of New Jersey.
  I was very pleased that the President decided to visit our State, and 
out of respect for him I decided to go to New Jersey to welcome him 
personally. In my view, it is critical that members of both parties 
work together in a positive and constructive way to address our 
Nation's problems. Although the President and I disagree on a number of 
issues, I sincerely want to cooperate with him wherever possible to 
help the people of New Jersey and all Americans, and I appreciated the 
chance to spend some time with him.
  Unfortunately, because I was in New Jersey with the President, I 
missed a vote on the motion to table the Wyden amendment, No. 78. This 
amendment would have made nondischargeable certain debts arising from 
the exchange of electric energy in response to the recent crisis in 
California. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the 
motion to table. Like Senator Feinstein, I am concerned that by 
interjecting ourselves into this issue and giving a priority to certain 
creditors, we could trigger a rush to bankruptcy court that could force 
California utilities into bankruptcy.

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