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PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 106th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSIONPage S10658
RECESS
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate stands in recess until the hour of 2:15 p.m.
Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:29 p.m., recessed until 2:17 p.m., whereupon, the Senate reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr. GREGG).
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming is recognized.
Mr. THOMAS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. As The Congressional Record shows this happened repeatedly throughout the day.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaties on today’s Executive Calendar. They will consist of Nos. 20 through 53.
I further ask unanimous consent that the treaties be considered as having passed through their various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolutions of ratification; all committee provisos, reservations, understandings, declarations be considered and agreed to; that any statements be printed in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD as if read; further, that when the resolutions of ratification are voted upon, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be notified of the Senate’s action, and that following the disposition of the treaties, the Senate return to legislative session.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the clerk report each treaty by title prior to the vote on each treaty, and further I ask for a division vote on each resolution of ratification.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The treaties will be considered to have passed through their various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolutions of ratification, which the clerk will report.
The "dead of night" quip of mine was a euphemism.
As all can see it happened in broad daylight.
S10667
The PRESIDING OFFICER. A division has been requested.
Senators in favor of the ratification of this treaty, please raise their hand. (After a pause.) Those opposed will raise their hands.
With two-thirds of the Senators present having voted in the affirmative, the resolution of ratification is agreed to.
Mr. THOMAS. I thank the Presiding Officer, the Senator from West Virginia, and the clerk.
By the way, just for information, these treaties were all approved by the Foreign Relations Committee on October 4 and 5.
2/3 of Congress wasn't there. The quorum call was rescinded with no objection.
By the way, just for information, these treaties were all approved by the Foreign Relations Committee on October 4 and 5.OMG! This is the first time I've heard THAT. I wonder if Jesse Helms was ill or absent on whichever day they handled the two poison pills.
IMO, having talked on the phone with Richard J. Douglas, Chief Counsel of the Committee, after this travesty, I believe Douglas knew exactly what was being done and why it had to be snuck through.
It's hard to imagine that Jesse Helms would have allowed this. Although he was in poor health when he retired in 2003 and three years later it was reported that he had multi-infarct dementia (failing memory and diminished cognitive function)...