UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2285 -- (Senate - March 28, 2000)

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Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have a unanimous-consent request which I have communicated to Senator DASCHLE. He is here to respond. Before I propound it, I will say this does have to do with the issue of gasoline taxes, and it is an effort to get a process started so we can have a discussion and debate about votes on this issue.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now turn to Calendar No. 473, S.

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2285, regarding gas taxes, and that following the reporting of the bill, there be 4 hours equally divided for debate under control of the two leaders or their designees. I further ask unanimous consent that no amendments or motions be in order and, following the use or yielding back of time, the bill be advanced to third reading and passage occur, all without intervening action or debate.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first, this bill has never been in committee. It has not had the opportunity afforded most legislation to be considered, have hearings, have people come forth and talk about the implications of eliminating the gas tax. Normally bills go through committee, and then they come to the floor. That is No. 1.

No. 2, what kind of a debate would one have when no amendments are made available? I cannot imagine that on an issue of this import we would want to accelerate the debate, accelerate the consideration, and prevent Senators from offering amendments and other ideas.

For those reasons, I object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I regret the objection from the minority leader, but I understand. This agreement would allow the Senate to pass and send a message to all Americans that we are trying to do what we can in the short term to alleviate the rising gas prices all Americans are paying at the pumps.

I would not suggest for a moment that this is the long-term solution, and I should emphasize, this legislation would allow for the suspension of the 4.3-cents-a-gallon gas tax for the remainder of the year, with a trigger device that says that if the average price nationwide reaches $2, then there will be a gas tax holiday for the remainder of the year for the full 18.4 cents a gallon.

It is pretty simple and straightforward. There would be time for debate, but I understand.

We will get the process started, and we will see how it develops in terms of the debate and what votes will occur in order for us to start this process, which looks like we will have to go through a motion to proceed to invoke cloture on the bill and then there will be subsequent votes.

In order for this to be considered in a timely fashion, which could take as long as a week or two, I thought we needed to get it started.

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