May 16, 2000 - 08:40 PM
Gun Issue Brings Senate to Standstill.
By David Espo
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two days after the Million Mom March for
gun control, Democrats on Tuesday brought the Senate to a
standstill over the issue and won a promise for a pair of politically
sensitive votes on Wednesday.
Democratic Leader Tom Daschle unexpectedly injected the topic
into debate on routine spending legislation, and told reporters he
had informed Majority Leader Trent Lott, "you will not finish this bill
this week or maybe next week" without allowing votes on gun
control.
Lott promised votes on Wednesday on two nonbinding measures
involving plans to reduce juvenile crime. Democrats had sought
resolutions commending the Million Mom March this past
weekend, but the GOP measure does not mention the march.
The gun control issue has been simmering for a year. In the wake
of the 1999 student massacre at Columbine High School in
Colorado, the Senate cleared legislation to crack down on juvenile
crime that included White House-backed restrictions on sales at
gun shows and a requirement for safety devices to be sold with
guns.
Republicans broke ranks on the issue, and Vice President Al Gore
cast a tie-breaking vote on May 20 to clear the measure over
opposition by the GOP leadership.
The House version of the bill did not include the gun control
provisions, though, and negotiations on a compromise have been
stalled for months.
The Million Mom March was designed to pressure Congress to act
on gun control, and Daschle went to the Senate floor at the first
available opportunity since then to raise the issue.
He proposed a non-binding measure commending those involved in
the march, and declaring that Congress should "immediately
pass" legislation that includes the gun control provisions that
cleared the Senate a year ago.
Lott immediately used a parliamentary device that suspended
proceedings on the floor for several hours. Republicans have 10
first-term senators on the ballot this fall, and his maneuvering
appeared designed in part to shelter them from difficult votes.
But when Lott returned to the floor, it was Daschle's turn to use
the Senate rule book to his advantage. He forced a series of
time-consuming votes that made clear he could tie up proceedings
for hours, even days at a time, when Republicans must work on
must-pass spending measures.
Finally, Lott produced a rival Republican proposal, and agreed to
permit votes on Wednesday.
The GOP measure, also non-binding, includes no mention of the
Million Mom March or gun control. Instead, it says the "Clinton
administration has failed to protect law-abiding citizens by
inadequately enforcing federal firearms laws."
It also calls for passage of a "comprehensive approach to juvenile
crime" including better enforcement, upgrading the national instant
criminal background checks and providing grants to states to
impose mandatory sentences.
For his part, Daschle also told reporters that 12 children a day die
to gun violence. "We will begin reading their names on a daily
basis for the Senate (and) to the extent possible we will tell some
of their stories," he promised.
AP-ES-05-16-00 2040EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Brought to you by the Tampa Bay Online Network
Gun Issue Brings Senate to Standstill.
By David Espo
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two days after the Million Mom March for
gun control, Democrats on Tuesday brought the Senate to a
standstill over the issue and won a promise for a pair of politically
sensitive votes on Wednesday.
Democratic Leader Tom Daschle unexpectedly injected the topic
into debate on routine spending legislation, and told reporters he
had informed Majority Leader Trent Lott, "you will not finish this bill
this week or maybe next week" without allowing votes on gun
control.
Lott promised votes on Wednesday on two nonbinding measures
involving plans to reduce juvenile crime. Democrats had sought
resolutions commending the Million Mom March this past
weekend, but the GOP measure does not mention the march.
The gun control issue has been simmering for a year. In the wake
of the 1999 student massacre at Columbine High School in
Colorado, the Senate cleared legislation to crack down on juvenile
crime that included White House-backed restrictions on sales at
gun shows and a requirement for safety devices to be sold with
guns.
Republicans broke ranks on the issue, and Vice President Al Gore
cast a tie-breaking vote on May 20 to clear the measure over
opposition by the GOP leadership.
The House version of the bill did not include the gun control
provisions, though, and negotiations on a compromise have been
stalled for months.
The Million Mom March was designed to pressure Congress to act
on gun control, and Daschle went to the Senate floor at the first
available opportunity since then to raise the issue.
He proposed a non-binding measure commending those involved in
the march, and declaring that Congress should "immediately
pass" legislation that includes the gun control provisions that
cleared the Senate a year ago.
Lott immediately used a parliamentary device that suspended
proceedings on the floor for several hours. Republicans have 10
first-term senators on the ballot this fall, and his maneuvering
appeared designed in part to shelter them from difficult votes.
But when Lott returned to the floor, it was Daschle's turn to use
the Senate rule book to his advantage. He forced a series of
time-consuming votes that made clear he could tie up proceedings
for hours, even days at a time, when Republicans must work on
must-pass spending measures.
Finally, Lott produced a rival Republican proposal, and agreed to
permit votes on Wednesday.
The GOP measure, also non-binding, includes no mention of the
Million Mom March or gun control. Instead, it says the "Clinton
administration has failed to protect law-abiding citizens by
inadequately enforcing federal firearms laws."
It also calls for passage of a "comprehensive approach to juvenile
crime" including better enforcement, upgrading the national instant
criminal background checks and providing grants to states to
impose mandatory sentences.
For his part, Daschle also told reporters that 12 children a day die
to gun violence. "We will begin reading their names on a daily
basis for the Senate (and) to the extent possible we will tell some
of their stories," he promised.
AP-ES-05-16-00 2040EDT
© Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Brought to you by the Tampa Bay Online Network
Any way we can make this a permament thing?