RESPECT TO PAIN MANAGEMENT. NOW, THE PEOPLE OF OREGON WHO HAVE
           A BALLOT IN THEIR HAND LIKE THIS ONE, RIGHT NOW, MR. PRESIDENT,
           WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS BALLOT REALLY COUNTS. THE PEOPLE OF
           OREGON IN COFFEE SHOPS AND BEAUTY PARLORS ALL OVER THE STATE,
           WHEN THEY ARE CONSIDERING HOW TO VOTE RIGHT NOW, ARE ASKING
           THEMSELVES DOES THIS BALLOT REALLY COUNT?

           WHEN WE VOTED ON A MATTER THAT REALLY IS CRITICAL TO US,
           PARTICULARLY ON A MEASURE THAT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT TO THE
           STATES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE 3,000 MILES AWAY WON'T
           SUBSTITUTE THEIR PERSONAL MORAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS FOR OURS
           ON A MATTER THAT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN LEFT TO US TO DECIDE. I
           CAN TELL THE PEOPLE OF OREGON NOW THAT THEIR VOTE STILL COUNTS.

           AS OF TODAY, WHETHER YOU VOTE FOR MY PARTY OR THE PARTY OF
           SENATOR NICKLES, IT DOESN'T MATTER. BECAUSE THIS BALLOT, AS OF
           THIS MORNING, IN THE STATE OF OREGON, STILL COUNTS, REGARDLESS
           OF WHETHER YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, A LIBERAL OR
           CONSERVATIVE OR INDEPENDENT, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL
           PERSUASION, AS OF NOW IN THE STATE OF OREGON THIS BALLOT STILL
           COUNTS. YOUR VOTES IMPORTANT AND I HOPE THAT FOLKS AT HOME
           EXERCISE THAT RIGHT. THEIR VOTE STILL MEANS SOMETHING. AND I AM

           GOING TO DO MY BEST TO SEE THAT IT CONTINUES TO COUNT WHEN
           CONGRESS RECONVENES AFTER THE ELECTION. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD

           THE FLOOR. MR. CRAIG: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM IDAHO.
           

           MR. CRAIG: AS THE SENATOR FROM OREGON IS LEAVING THE FLOOR, LET
           ME ONCE AGAIN THANK HIM FOR COOPERATION AND BIPARTISAN WORK HE
           AND I WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR THROUGH THE FORESTRY
           AND PUBLIC LANDS SUBCOMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR IN ENERGY AND
           NATURAL RESOURCES BY PASSING AND YESTERDAY HAVING THE PRESIDENT
           SIGN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DEPENDENT BILL THAT GOES A
           LONG WAY TOWARDS STABILIZING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COUNTY
           GOVERNANCES WITHIN THE RURAL RESOURCE-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES OF

           THE WESTERN PUBLIC LAND STATES.
           

           MR. WYDEN: WILL THE SENATOR YIELD?
           
           

           MR. CRAIG: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
           

           MR. WYDEN: I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE YIELDING. I WANT TO THANK
           HIM FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY BIPARTISAN APPROACH THAT HE HAS TAKEN
           THROUGHOUT THIS SESSION. I THINK 18 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE SESSION
           BEGAN AND WE WERE TACKLING THE COUNTY PAYMENTS QUESTION AND
           PARTICULARLY RURAL SCHOOLS AND ROADS, NOBODY THOUGHT THAT WE
           COULD PUT TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN COALITION ON THIS. YOU HAD TWO
           SIDES THAT WERE COME PLEELTLY DUG IN. ONE SIDE SAID HE WE

           SHOULD TOTALLY DIVORCE THESE PAYMENTS FROM ANY CONNECTION TO
           THE LAND. AND OTHERS WENT JUST THE OTHER WAY. THEY SAID LET'S
           TRY TO INCENTIVIZE A HIGHER CUT. BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THE
           SENATOR FROM IDAHO IN GIVING IF ME THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HE HAS
           AS THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE FORESTRY SUBCOMMITTEE, HAS SHOWN
           THAT WE CAN TAKE A FRESH APPROACH ON THESE NATURAL RESOURCES
           ISSUES AND STICKLY TIMBER. SO I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE
           YIELDING ME THIS TIME. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM

           AGAIN NEXT SESSION BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXHILARATING MOMENT TO
           HAVE THE FIRST MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCES BILL IN DECADES COME TO
           THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AS OUR LEGISLATION DID. I THANK MY
           COLLEAGUE FOR LETTING ME INTRUDE ON HIS TIME. BUT TO HAVE HAD A
           CHANCE TO BE PART OF A HISTORIC EFFORT WITH MY FRIEND FROM
           IDAHO HAS REALLY BEEN A SPECIAL PART OF MY PUBLIC SERVICE AND I
           WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT THIS MORNING.
           

           MR. CRAIG: I THANK THE SENATOR FROM OREGON. BOTH HE AND I
           LEARNED WHEN YOU TRY TO CHANGE A LAW THAT IS ACTUALLY 92 YEARS
           OLD, OR ADJUST IT A LITTLE BIT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO. WE WERE
           ABLE TO DO THAT. NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE A GOOD NUMBER OF
           CHALLENGES ON PUBLIC LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES AND I
           LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SENATOR WIDEN. MR. PRESIDENT, I
           VERY RECENTLY CAME TO THE FLOOR AND EXPRESSED MY GRAVE CONCERN
           ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY. I AM NOT ALONE

           IN MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. INDEED, SOME OF THE LOUD HE IS
           THE VOICES EXPRESSING SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY PRICES ARE
           COMING FROM NOT JUST IDAHO BUT CALIFORNIA. AND SPECIFICALLY
           FROM MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES FROM CALIFORNIA HERE IN THE
           U.S. SENATE. BY MY COMMENTS TODAY I DO NOT DIMINISH OR IN ANY
           WAY CAST DOUBT ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE HARDSHIPS EXPERIENCED BY THE
           RATEPAYERS IN CALIFORNIA, PARTICULARLY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

           INDEED, I HAVE GREAT EMPATHY FOR THEM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE
           PACIFIC NORTHWEST RATEPAYERS ARE BRACING FOR POWER SHORT TANLS
           IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WILL CAUSE ENERGY PRICES TO SOAR AND
           HURT LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES ALIKE AND PUT SOME RESIDENTIAL
           CUSTOMERS IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COLD AND HOT PERIODS
           OF THE YEAR IN OUR REGION OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SO I SHARE
           EQUAL CONCERNS WITH THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA. MR. PRESIDENT,
           WE MUST CONFRONT THE OBVIOUS FACTS FACING ALL ENERGY CONSUMERS

           TODAY. THERE IS AN ENERGY SUPPLY CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.
           IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T SEE IT COMING OR AT
           LEAST IGNORED IT. WE IN THE CONGRESS HEARD NO ALARMS FROM THE
           DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND WERE GIVEN NOT ENOUGH WARNING DURING
           THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT AN ENERGY SUPPLY CRISIS WAS ABOUT TO
           THREATEN THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY OF OUR COUNTRY. ONE OF THE
           VERY FEW PIECES OF ENERGY LEGISLATION THAT WAS SENT TO CONGRESS
           FOR REVIEW AND PASSAGE WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMPREHENSIVE

           ELECTRICAL COMPETITION ACT OF APRIL -- ON APRIL 1999. THAT
           LEGISLATION WAS PURPORT TODAY RESULT IN $TO BILLION IN SAVINGS
           A YEAR TO AMERICA'S ENERGY CONSUMERS. HOWEVER, THIS LEGISLATION
           WOULD NOT HAVE PRECLUDED THE CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA. THE KIND
           THAT CALIFORNIANS EXPERIENCED THIS SUMMER. INDEED, THE
           LEGISLATION WAS FULL OF MANDATES AND RULES THAT DIDN'T OFFER
           NIP ECONOMY INCENTIVES OR INVESTMENTS IN NEW SUPPLIES.

           MOREOVER, THE LEGISLATION INCLUDED A RENEWABLE PORT FOAM YOPE
           MANDATE THAT DID NOT INCLUDE CHEAP HYDRO POWER AS A RENEWABLE.
           I KNOW THE PREP SIDING OFFICER AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AT THAT
           TIME. THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS
           NOT GOING TO INCLUDE HYDRO POWER AS A RENEWABLE. THIS RENEWABLE
           PORTFOLIO REQUIRED WOULD HAVE MADE ELECTRICITY MORE EXPENSIVE
           AND MORE SCARCE TO THE CONSUMER. PART OF THE PROBLEM IN
           CALIFORNIA APPEARS TO BE THAT THIS IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE

           TRADE OFF OF HIGH PRICES REQUIRED BY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
           EITHER THE TOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST
           IN CALIFORNIA ARE AN ACCEPTABLE COST OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION, OR
           CALIFORNIA MUST MAKE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR
           MORE ABUNDANT SUPPLIES OF AT A CHEAPER PRICE. IN ADDITION, THE
           ADMINISTRATION MUST DID REEXAMINE THE USE OF PRICE CAPS THAT
           APPARENTLY HAVE CAUSED THE SUPPLY PROBLEMS IN CALIFORNIA. MR.

           PRESIDENT, THESE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THE LEGISLATION
           FAILED TO GET THE DESIRED SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FROM A MAJORITY
           OF THE MEMBERS THAT CLUBBED MANY DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS
           REPUBLICANS. WE RECOGNIZE YOU JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GO OUT AND A
           HERE IS THE ENERGY AND HERE IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST AND CAP
           IT AT PRICES AND PUT ALL OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS ON
           IT. IT IS GOING TO COST SOMEBODY SOMETHING, AND ULTIMATELY IT
           GETS TO THE CONSUMER AND BOY DID IT GET TO THE CONSUMER IN
           CALIFORNIA THIS SUMMER. MANY OF US WHY JUSTIFY BRING CONCERNED

           ABOUT THE IMPACT SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE AN CURRENT
           ELECTRICAL SUPPLY NETWORK THAT SUPPORTS THE MOST RELIABLE
           ELECTRICAL SERVICE FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE
           ADMINISTRATION DID NOT ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN HOW THE LEGISLATION
           WOULD PREVENT ENERGY SUPPLY PROBLEMS FROM OCCURRING IF ITS
           LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, PERHAPS BECAUSE IT SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE
           AN ADEQUATE EXPLANATION FOR IF IT KNEW THE FACTS IT CERTAINLY
           WASN'T WILLING TO HAVE THEM KNOWN PUBLICLY. RATHER THAN WAIT
           FOR FEDERAL DIRECTION ON THIS ISSUE, MANY STATES EMBARKED ON

           THEIR OWN EXPERIMENT WITH ELECTRICAL RESTRUCTURING. SOME OF
           THOSE STATE PROGRAMS APPEAR TO BE EXPERIENCING SOME SUCCESS BY
           GIVING TO THEIR ELECTRICAL CONSUMER CHOICE OF ENERGY SUPPLY
           WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING REPUBLIC LIABILITY SERVICE. HOWEVER, OTHER
           STATES ARE EXPERIENCING GREAT DIFFICULTIES ENSURING RELIABLE
           SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES AND CALIFORNIA HAPPENS TO BE ONE
           OF THOSE STATES. MR. PRESIDENT, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN POINTING

           BLAME FOR FAILURES. I AM INTERESTED IN GETTING IF HE FACTS AND
           UNDERSTANDING THEM AS IT RELATES TO HOW THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE
           FAILURES SO THAT OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS OF FUTURE LEGISLATIVE
           PROPOSALS CAN BE MADE TO AVOID WHAT HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA
           AGAIN IN THE COMING YEARS. MOREOVER, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE
           DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS FROM CALIFORNIA HAVE ALL OF THE FACT
           NECESSARY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE ROLE THE
           BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION PLAYS IN THE CALIFORNIA

           MARKETS. THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCUSATIONS MADE THIS SUMMER ABOUT
           HOW THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION WAS HANDLING ITS
           ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. I THINK THE FATS ARE SOON TO BE KNOWN AND AN
           ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY WILL EMERGE. I FULLY EXPECT THE FACTS
           TO PROVE THAT THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT
           CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENERGY CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA AND THAT B.P.A.
           CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN BRINGING
           AFFORDABLE SURPLUS TRIS ARE AT THIS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

           TO THE CALIFORNIA MARKETS WHEN THAT SURPLUS IS AVAILABLE. FOR
           THESE REASONS, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO GET RELEVANT INFORMATION
           FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY PRICE CRISIS TO CONGRESS, AND THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT IS COME TO MY APRIL
           TENSE THAT THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION'S
           INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON CALIFORNIA WHOLESALE ELECTRICAL MARKETS
           IS COMPLETE, AND READY TO -- FOR DISTRIBUTION AND I AM TOLD
           JUST THIS MORNING THEY HAVE FINALLY DECIDED TO RELEASE IT.

           INDEED, IN A NEWS REPORT YESTERDAY, I READ THAT A DEMOCRAT
           COMMISSIONER FROM FERC STATED FERC COULD NOT FIND EVIDENCE THAT
           CALIFORNIA POWER RATES WERE UNJUST AND UNREASONABLE. THE
           COMMISSIONER TOLD REPORTERS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ABUSE BY
           ENERGY COMPANIES OPERATING WITHIN THE STATE. MR. PRESIDENT,
           THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT MUST BE SHARED AND NOW WILL
           BE SHARED WITH CONGRESS AND ALL ELECTRICAL CONSUMERS. THE NEWS

           REPORTS ALSO SAY THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
           REPORT WOULD ADDRESS SWEEPING STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN
           CALIFORNIA'S INDEPENDENT SUPPLY OPERATOR OR I.S.O., WHICH
           CONTROLS THE HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION GRID AND THE STATE'S
           POWER TRANSMISSION GRID AND THE STATE'S POWER EXCHANGE WHERE
           POWER IS BOUGHT AND SOLD. IT IS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE
           FERC REPORT HAS BEEN COMPLETE SINCE OCTOBER 16. THERE WAS SOME
           EFFORTS TO KEEP IT QUIET, BUT IT APPEARS NOW TO BE BREAKING ON

           THE SCENE. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION HAS BEEN
           AVAILABLE AND IS NOW, AS I SAY, BEGINNING TO COME OUT. I DO NOT
           UNDERSTAND WHY CONGRESS SHOULD RESIST THIS KIND OF INFORMATION.
           IT OUGHT TO BE MADE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE
           SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE
           OF JURISDICTION FOR FERC ISSUES AND SHARED WITH MEMBERS OF THE
           HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE WHERE ALL OF THESE ISSUES WILL HAVE TO
           BE DEALT WITH. INDEED, MR. PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE FERC

           COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND TALKED
           ABOUT THE ISSUANCE OF THIS REPORT. COMMISSIONER ABEHR CAPTURED
           THESE THOUGHTS WITH ELOQUENT WORDS ON ONGT 19 WHEN HE SAID,
           "RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER 1 TO RELEASE THE REPORT" WHICH
           THEY FINALLY DID, "HE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THEY DO IT AT THIS
           TIME AND STAFF FIND PS BE MADE AVAILABLE. I URGE THE CHAIRMAN
           TO RELEASE THE COMPLETE REPORT NOW." IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT

           COMMISSIONER IS FINALLY GETTING HIS WAY. -- GOVERNMENT REQUIRES
           FAIRNESS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. THE
           PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA SHOULD HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO
           DIGEST THE FINDINGS AND CONSIDER THE OPTIONS PRESENTED. JUSTICE
           BRANDEIS OFTEN REMARKED, HE SAID, "SUNSHINE IS THE BEST
           DISINFECTANT." LET THE SUNSHINE ON OUR STAFF, THE COMMISSIONER
           SPEAKING OF THE FERC STAFF AND THE STAFF REPORT. "IT CAN ONLY
           HELP HEAL THE RAW EMOTIONS RAMPANT IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA."

           IT IS TIME CALIFORNIANS LOOK AT THEM STEFS AND DECIDE WHAT WENT
           WRONG IN CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE IT WASN'T A RESULT OF THE
           BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION HORDING ITS POWER OR CHOOSING
           NOT TO SEND POWER TO CALIFORNIA, IT WAS CALIFORNIA NOW FINDING
           OUT THAT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY
           WANTED IN THEIR MARKETPLACE ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE
           RESTRICTIONS INDEED FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER OF CALIFORNIA TO

           HAVE TO PAY FOR. WITH THAT I YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE SENATE
           STAND IN RECESS UNTIL THE HOUR
           
           OF 2:15 P.M.
           
           
           
           RECESS:
{END: 2000/11/01 TIME: 12-30 , Wed.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}