[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 531-532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have been speaking at some length this 
morning with Senator Nickles. We also spent some time with Senator 
Grassley and the majority leader. It would be in everyone's interest 
for the next hour to continue with discussions off the floor dealing 
with the stimulus package and also with the agriculture bill, which we 
hope can be brought up in the near future. Those discussions are 
ongoing.
  I think the discussions have been conducted in good faith. We have 
spent a lot of time on this economic stimulus bill, and not being in 
the Chamber debating and offering amendments I do not think is going to 
take away from our ability to do the bill or not do the bill. We 
already have pending--I do not know the exact number--probably 20 
amendments we have not disposed of.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to 
a period for morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up 
to 10 minutes each, until 12:30 p.m. when we recess for our party 
conferences.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

[[Page 532]]


  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, at this time, I tell my friend and 
colleague, I will not object because I have a great deal of respect for 
him. We are ready to proceed with a lot of amendments on the stimulus 
bill. My colleague from Arizona has an amendment to make the estate tax 
elimination permanent. As people know, it is effective for 1 year and 
goes off the books; it sunsets. It should be made permanent. We have 
other amendments dealing with net offset carryback for 5 years. We 
would like to have a vote on that amendment. We have amendments that we 
believe will help stimulate the economy. We would like to have votes on 
them.
  I guess we can go into a period for morning business, have the 
caucuses, and people can strategize. Democrats and Republicans do have 
several amendments pending. Frankly, a lot of us would like to vote on 
those amendments to improve the package the majority leader introduced, 
which we believe comes up a little short.
  I am not going to object to his request for a period for morning 
business. My understanding is we can debate the stimulus package 
through that period. But I hope we will have a chance for Democrats and 
Republicans to offer their amendments later today and tomorrow. So I 
mention to my colleague, who is my very good friend, that we want to 
have some votes to improve this package today, but I shall not object 
to his request.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I have a question for the Senator from 
Nevada. We are going back on the bill immediately after our respective 
caucuses; is that correct?
  Mr. REID. That is the regular order.
  Mr. KYL. I do not object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

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