AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO CONTAIN THIS INCESSANT EFFORT TO RAISE
           MORE AND MORE MONEY. BUT THE COST OF THE CREDIBILITY OF THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE AS THEY VIEW THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN OUR
           CAMPAIGNS IN 1998. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, NOT ALL OF US ARE ON THE
           FLOOR RIGHT NOW, BUT IF WE WERE, I WOULD SAY WITH UNANIMITY,

           OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WOULD WISH TO EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT WE
           CAN PASS THE SHAYS-MEHAN BILL THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, BUT
           CERTAINLY AT SOME POINT BEFORE WE LEAVE. IF WE PASS THE
           SHAYS-MEHAN BILL, AS IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE -- WOMEN EA
           PREPARED TO DO; I WILL ACCEPT IT SH; I WILL TAKE THE LANGUAGE
           THAT WAS IN THE HOUSE AND SEND IT OFFER TO THE PRESIDENT. HE
           HAS ALREADY INDICATED HE WILL SIGN T WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO
           CONFERENCE. THERE'S NOTHING WE HAVE TO DO THAT WOULD COMPLICATE

           OUR ACTIONS ONCE IT PASSED IN THE SENATE. SO LET'S DO IT. LET'S
           AGREE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO IT
           NOW. TIME IS RUNNING OUT. AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES -- I URGE MY
           COLLEAGUES TO AGREE. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ASK UNA
           UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT UPON THE DISPOSITION OF THE FOREIGN
           OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE
           CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2183 2183, THE HOUSE-PASSED CAMPAIGN

           FINANCE REFORM BILL, THAT ONLY RELEVANT AMENDMENTS BE IN ORDER,
           THAT IT BE THE REGULAR ORDER BUT THAT THE MAJORITY LEADER MAY
           LAY THE BILL ASIDE FOR ANY APPROPRIATIONS BILLS AND
           APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORTS.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

           A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           
           

           A SENATOR: I OBJECT.
           

           MR. DASCHLE: MR. PRESIDENT, I'M NOT SURPRISED, BUT I AM
           DISAPPOINTED. WE'LL CONTINUE TO PERSIST. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE
           THE EFFORT EACH DAY, EITHER IN THE FORM OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT
           REQUESTS LIKE THIS OR WITH AMENDMENTS OFFERED TO BILLS THAT
           WILL BE CONSIDERED. WE WILL NOT LET THIS ISSUE PASS PASS. IT IS
           ESSENTIAL THAT WE CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE IT'S TOO

           LATE, BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME. THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO
           SEIZE THE MOMENT AND TO DO WHAT THE SENATE SHOULD HAVE DONE
           EARLIER THIS YEAR, SHOULD HAVE DONE LAST YEAR, SHOULD HAVE DONE
           10 YEARS AGO. THIS WILL NOT GO AWAY. WE CAN DO IT EITHER THE
           EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PERSIST.
           

           A SENATOR: WILL THE SENATOR YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM
           MINNESOTA.
           

           MR. WELLSTONE: I -- BEFORE COMING BACK, I WAS AT THE MINNESOTA
           STATE FAIRX WHICH IS QUITE A FOCUS GROUP, ALMOST HALF THE
           STATE'S POPULATION COMES THERE IN 13 DAYS. AND WITHOUT GOING
           THREW MY CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA, I WANT TO ASK
           YOU WHETHER OR NOT BACK HOME IN SOUTH DAKOTA OR AS YOU TRAVEL
           AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHAT KIND OF DISCUSSIONS DO CITIZENS HAVE
           WITH YOU ABOUT THE MIX OF MONEY AND POLITICS AND REFORM?
           DOES THE MINORITY LEADER -- DOES THE MINORITY LEADER THINK THAT
           THIS IS IN FACT A BURNING ISSUE TO PEOPLE?
           WHEEF EA BEEN TOLD FOR SO LONG THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE

           ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM. WHAT'S THE MAJORITY LEADER
           HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA?
           WHAT IS HE HEARING FROM CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTRY?
           WHY DOES HE PUT THIS AT THE VERY TOP OF HIS PRIORITIES?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA RAISES AN IMPORTANT
           POINT. AS YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS I TALKED TO SOUTH
           DAKOTANS ALL OVER THIS LAST MONTH OF AUGUST, IT WAS REMARKABLE
           HOW MANY PEOPLE SIMPLY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO
           DO WITH THE POLL CAL PROCESS ANYMORE. I HAD MANY, MANY
           REPUBLICANS WHO SAID, WE ARE JUST SICK AND TIRED OF WHAT IS
           HAPPENING OUT THERE, AND MOST OF IT, THEY SAID, RELATES TO THE
           MONEY. THE MONEY CHASE, THE IMPLICATIONS OF MORE MONEY, THE

           INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THEY'RE
           TIRED OF IT. AND I THINK, WITHOUT QUESTION, THEY ALL UNDERSTAND
           THAT THE RULES, THE LAWS NEEDS TO BE CHANGE. IT WAS REMARKABLE
           THE CONSIST TENSESY THAT PEOPLE EXPRESSED THAT POINT OF VIEW TO
           ME -- REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS.
           THEY ALL SAID IT. THEY CALL INDICATEED WITH INCREASING
           INTENSITY THAT UNLESS WE CHANGE THE SYSTEM, WE COULD LOSE IT.
           THAT UNLESS WE CHANGE THE RULES, WE'LL BECOME VICTIMS BY THE

           CURRENT ONES. AND THAT, TO ME, IS THE ESSENCE OF WHY THIS IS SO

           ESSENTIAL, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ACT SO. MR. FEINGOLD: MR. PRESIDENT?
           WOULD THE MINORITY LEADER YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM
           WISCONSIN FOR A QUESTION.
           

           MR. FEINGOLD: LET ME THANK THE MINORITY LEADER FOR HIS
           TREMENDOUS LEER ON THIS ISSUE AND MAINTAINING THE -- WHETHER IT
           BE THE MCCAIN-FEINGOLD BILL OR THE SHAYS-MEHAN BILL, WHICH ARE
           VERY SIMILAR. ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IS THAT
           IT IS REALLY A PARTISAN BILL, THOUGH. THE FACT IS THAT SEVEN
           REPUBLICANS HAVE SUPPORTED THIS BILL OUT HERE ON THE FLOOR AND
           THE NUMBER IN THE HOUSE WAS OVERWHELMING. I WONDER IF THE

           MINORITY LEADER IS AWARE THAT A QUARTER OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF
           THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE HOUSE SUPPORTED THIS LEGISLATION?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: I WAS AWARE OF THAT, AND I THINK THE SENATOR FROM
           WISCONSIN RAISES A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. I ACTUALLY BELIEVE
           THAT THERE IS AT LEAST 25% OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN THE
           SENATE THAT SUPPORTS CPAIGN REFOFIRM I JUST WISH THAT THEY
           WOULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES, AS I KNOW THE HOUSE ALREADY HAS IN
           THAT REGARD. AS I TALKED TO COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
           AISLE, THEY TELL ME THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THEY TELL ME THAT
           THEY UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO SEE SOME CHANGE. AND I JUST HOPE
           THIS SOME ADDITIONAL, COURAGEOUS REPUBLICAN SENATORS WILL STEP

           FORTH AND JOIN US -- ALL WE NEED ARE 60; ALL WE NEED ARE 60
           VOTES, SHOULD I SAY. WE ALREADY HAVE 45 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS. AS
           THE SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN HAS NOLETEED, WE HAVE ALREADY
           SEVERAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES AND
           ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS. SO A DOZEN OR SO
           ADDITIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS WOULD PUT US OVER THE TOP.
           

           MR. FEINGOLD: IF COULD I JUST FOLLOW, THIS IS PRECISELY THE
           REASON WHY THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM ARIZONA AND I ANNOUNCED
           YESTERDAY THAT WE WOULD BE FORCING THE ISSUE, IF YOUR PROPOSAL
           WAS NOT AGREED TO, TO BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT
           THERE WILL BE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OTHER SIDE AISLE HERE WHO
           WILL SUPPORT US. IN FACT, WE ARE DOWN NOW TO ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE.
           THE FACT IS THAT ORIGINALLY PEOPLE SAID, WELL, YOU ONLY HAVE
           SEVERAL COSPONSORS. IF YOU ONLY HAVE TWO REPUBLICANS, IT'LL

           NEVER GET THROUGH THE HOUSE. JUST A SERIES OF WHAT I NOW REGARD
           AS EXCUSES. BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, NOITS EA VERY SIMPLE. THE
           PRESIDENT HAS SAID HE'S READY TO SIGN THE BILL. A MAJORITY OF
           THIS BODY HAS INDICATED ON THE RECORD THEY'RE FOR THE BILL. AND
           A MAJORITY OF THE OTHER HOUSE IS DRAMATICALLY IN FAVOR OF THE
           BILL. I JUST WONDER IF THE LEADER WOULD COMMENT FOR A MINUTE ON
           THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IF WE DON'T GET THIS DONE THIS YEAR.
           UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T PASS A BILL THAT WILL AFFECT THIS
           ELECTION. THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN 60-SOME DAYS. THAT

           WAS A DREAM WE HAD. WE WORKED HARD AND WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO
           HAVE AVOIDED THE ABUSES THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AS WE
           SPEAK. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ELECTION COMING UP IN THE YEAR 2000.
           AND I WONDER IF THE LEADER WOULD TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT WHAT
           IT MEANS IF WE DON'T GET THE JOB DONE NOW.
           

           MR. DASCHLE: WELL, THE SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN PROBABLY KNOWS
           BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER THE IMPLICATIONS OF DOING
           NOTHING. NO ONE HAS WORKED HARDER, PROVIDED GREATER LEERN AND
           ENGENDERED MORE RESPECT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAN HAS THE
           SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN WISCONSIN. HE IS RUNNING, AS AM I, THIS
           YEAR. HE KNOWS THE RACE FOR DOLLARS. HE UNDERSTANDS THE
           IMPLICATIONS OF THAT RACE. HE UNDERSTANDS AS WELL THE AVERAGE
           COST A SENATE RACE RIGHT NOW IS OVER $4 MILLION. HE KNOWS, AS I

           DO, THAT WE'VE ALREADY SURPASSED LAST YEAR'S RECORD-BREAKING
           LEVELS, LAST CYCLE'S RECORD-BREAKING LEVELS IN THE AMOUNT OF
           MONEY REQUIRED TO BE SUCCESSFUL FMB --. HE KNOWS AS I DO THAT
           WE WILL SOON BE IN DOUBLE-DIGIT FIGURE WHEN THIS COMES TO WHAT
           IT WILL PARTICULAR TO WAGE A SUCCESSFUL SENATE RACE ANYWHERE IN
           THE COUNTRY. HE KNOWS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT. AND I WANT TO
           SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU DON'T NEED ANY IMAGINATION TO RECOGNIZE
           JUST WHAT A DEVASTATING EFFECT THAT HAS. I WAS AT TWO

           FUND-RAISING BREAKFASTS THIS MORNING -- NEITHER FOR MYSELF.
           THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THIS CITY AND ACROSS
           THIS COUNTRY. FUND-RAISER AFTER FUND-RAISER. MORE AND MORE
           MONEY GENERATED WITH IMPLICATIONS ON THE LEGISLATIVE AND
           POLITICAL PROCESS THAT I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT. WHERE
           DOES IT END?
           AND HOWL WILL WE POSSIBLY RECRUIT CANDIDATES IN THE FUTURE WHEN
           WE TELL THEM WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC
           PROCESS. BUT WE WANT YOU TO COUGH UP $10 MILLION TO DO SO IF

           YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE?
           HOW CAN WE RECRUIT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO
           HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE WHEREWITHAL. AND HOW MANY MORE
           MILLIONAIRES SHOULD WE HAVE IN A REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF 100
           PEOPLE?
           WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD AND DILIGENT AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OF
           WEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I'M GLAD THEY'RE HERE. BUT I WANT
           PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING FAMILIES AS WELL REPRESENTED WHO
           UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE A PAYCHECK AND TO MAKE ENDS

           MEET TO SEND A CHILD TO COLLEGE. I WANT THOSE PEOPLE IN THE
           SENATE AS WELL. AND HOW DO DO YOU IT?
           HOW DO YOU DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE TO RAISE $10 MILLION?
           AND WHO DO YOU TURN TO?
           SO THE SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN VERY APPROPRIATELY RAISES THE
           QUESTION, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?
           WELL, THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE. WE COULD TALK ALL DAY LONG
           ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW.
           

           MR. FEINGOLD: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME JUST THANK THE LEADER FOR
           HIS STATEMENTS AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AGAIN ON THIS ISSUE. I
           WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT COMING BACK HERE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE
           AGAIN AFTER I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE LIKE THE
           SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN MICHIGAN. I WAS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC WHEN I
           HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM ARIZONA. WE
           DECIDED DEFINITELY YESTERDAY TO MOVE AND TO MOVE SOON ON THIS
           ISSUE. NOW I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED AND ENTHUSE JAS PARTICULAR
           THAT WE CAN FINISH THE JOB. THE EXCUSES ARE OVER. THE WHOLE
           THING IS DOWN TO EIGHT SENATORS. AND IT'S TIME TO DO THE JOB. I

           THANK THE LEADER VERY MUCH.
           

           MR. DASCHLE: I THANK THE SENATOR FOR HIS COMMENTS AND
           APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE CONTRIBUTION THAT HE'S MADE. I'D BE
           HAPPY TO YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS FOR A
           QUESTION.
           

           MR. KERRY: MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE SENATOR. MR. PRESIDENT, I
           WANT TO ASK THE LEADER, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE A SERIES OF
           QUESTIONS I WANTED TO ASK HIM. BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS, I
           ASSUME THE LEADER HAS REACHED OUT TO THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE
           SENATE AND SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT THERE'S A WAY IN WHICH THE
           UNITED STATES SENATE COULD TAKE HASN'T APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF
           TIME TO PROPERLY DEAL WITH THIS EFFORT. AND I WONDER IF THE

           LEADER WOULD SHARE WITH THE SENATE AND WITH THE COUNTRY WHAT
           THE RESPONSE IS OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE WITH
           RESPECT TO THE ABILITY OF THE SENATE TO CARRY OUT ITS
           RESPONSIBILITIES HERE?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: WELL, THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS RAISES THE
           KEY QUESTION. WHAT IS THE RESPONSE?
           WE GOT IT A FEW MINUTES AGO. WE ASKED VERY REASONABLY THAT WE
           TAKE UP THIS BILL NEXT, THAT WE FINISH THE FOREIGN OPS
           APPROPRIATIONS BILL. IT IS CRITICAL. WE'VE GOT GET THESE
           APPROPRIATIONS BILLS DONE. AS I'VE NOTED, NOT ONE OF THE 13
           APPROPRIATIONS BILLS HAVE BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW. AND HERE IT IS
           NOW SEPTEMBER. THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS

           AWAY. AND WE HAVE YET TO PASS ONE APPROPRIATIONS BILL. SO WE
           RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR WORK DONE IN THAT REGARD,
           BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WILL BE GAPS, THAT THERE IS
           OTHER -- THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS OUT THERE LEGISLATIVELY. AND
           THERE CAN BE NO GREATER NEED THAN THIS, NO GREATER NEED THAN
           THE REQUEST WE MADE YESTERDAY ABOUT A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
           CONSIDERATION. WHY?
           BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY ACTED ON BOTH BILLS. SO THE
           RESPONSE WE GOT TODAY, AS I NOTED, WAS DISAPPOINTING.
           DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO BE REASONABLE. WE'RE

           SUGGESTING ONLY RELEVANT AMENDMENTS BOFFERED. WE'RE SUGGESTING
           THAT WE LAY THE BILL ASIDE, TO FINISH OUR WORK ON
           APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. WE'D BE PREPARED TO SUGGEST OTHER
           OPTIONS. IN FACT, I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR -- AND I HAVEN'T
           TALKED TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS SO I'M PREMATURE IN MAKING
           THIS OFFER -- BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WOULD BE -- I WOULD BE
           WILLING TO ACCEPT A VOTE UP OR DOWN ON THE SHAYS-MEHAN BILL. NO
           QUESTIONS ASKED. NO AMENDMENTS. LET'S JUST HAVE A VOTE UP OR

           DOWN ON SHAYS-MEHAN AND SEND IT TO THE PRESIDENT IF IT PASSES.
           I'D BE PREPARED TO DO THAT. MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT WANT TO
           GO FARTHER THAN THAT. HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE ONE
           VOTE?
           HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO CONSIDER SR H. SOMETHING THAT'S
           ALREADY PASSED IN THE HOUSE, AS THE SHFMT AYS-MEHAN BILL HAS.
           I'VE TALKED TO THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN. HE IS
           NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PRIDE OF AUTHORSHIP THAT HIS NAME TOSS HAS
           BEEN ON T HE SAID HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE WHATEVER WE CAN
           DO HERE TO GET EITHER BILL PASSED. I GUESS MY POINT IS IN

           ANSWER TO THE SNORE FROM MASSACHUSETTS, WE'VE TRIED TO BE AS
           REASONABLE ABOUT THIS AS I KNOW HOW TO BE.
           

           MR. KERRY: I WOULD ASK THE LEADER FURTHER, WHAT IS OPTIONS THEN
           MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THE MINORITY AT THIS POINT IN ORDER TO
           TRY TO MAKE CLEAR OUR SERIOUS DETERMINATION TO SEE THIS ISSUE
           PROPERLY ADDRESSED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE?
           
           

           MR. DASCHLE: WELL, THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS AS MUCH OF
           A LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIST AS AM I, AND HE AND I AND OTHERS HAVE
           TALKED ABOUT WHAT OUR RECOURSE IS GIVEN THE INTRANSIGENCE ON
           THE OTHER SIDE SIDE. I SUPPOSE WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS THAT I'M
           AWARE OF. THERE MAY BE OTHERS.
{END: 1998/09/02 TIME: 11-15 , Wed.  105TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}