Date: 1981-09-14
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I believe that the majority leader has indicated a very reasonable approach with respect to the scheduling of the Williams resolution. The leader Is taking Into account the very considerable workload that remains for the Senate to handle by way of the appropriations bills. the continuing resolution. the second concurrent budget resolution. the extension of the debt limit. and the various other pieces of legislation that are aside from the appropriations and budget process. I think that the majority leader is quite correct in his Judgment that these matters should be approached first. After all. It is the economy of the Nation that Is uppermost in the minds of the American people and It behooves the Senate to act as expeditiously as possible In Sealing with the budget. with appropriations matters. extending the debt limit. and so on. I also feel that the majority leader has acted appropriately in stating that sometime in early November the Senate will proceed to consideration of the resolution of expulsion. That seems to me to be a fair timetable. It seems to me to be a realistic one. I am certainly supportive of the majority leader in this respect. I think I should make It clear that. insofar as this Senator is concerned. I do not believe that the decisions that retrain for Judge Pratt to make should have any bearing whatsoever on this bodys deliberations In connection with this matter. I think that the Senate has a responsibility of Its own to act based on the facts and in consideration of the recommendation that was made unanimously by the members of the Senate Ethics Committee. That committee recommended that the Senator be expelled. It also recommended that the Senate wait until such time as the appeals process has been able to run its course. I take this occasion to compliment the committee. It was a difficult dti~un. I am sure. I compliment the members of the committee on both sides of the aisle for the duty which they have performeud. I think it is a very compeltr recommendation by the committee when we realize that it was entered into unanlmously. I think It Is reasonable to wait until around the 1st of November to proceed with this case. For the reasons that have been set forth by the distinguished majority leader. I feel that the Senate has a constitutioru.l responsibility to act one way or the other in this matter and to do so fairly expeditiously and. certainly. taking Into consideration the other duties and the other legislative problems that confront us. It seems to me that the majority leader has outlined a timetable that takes Into consideration all of those very necessary factors. Again. Mr. President. I emphasize that the Senate Is not bound by any decision by the court In this matter. The Senate Is bound to fulfill its responsibilities under the Constitution based on whatever facts there art. 0 :e weighed and quite Independently of the actions of the court. Having said that. Mr. President. I want to say again that I personally am very comfortable with the schedule that the leader has laid out. I fully support him. I say this. having talked with at least two of the Democratic members of the Ethics Committee. I have discussed this with Mr. HEFLIN. the ranking minority member. and I have discussed it with Mr. EACLZrON. I have not had an opportunity to discuss it with Mr. PRYOR. But. without presumIng to say one way or another how those two members with whom I have discussed the matter may feel personally. I believe that the timetable Is a reasonable one and that it comports. it seems to me. with the recommendations of the committee. although perhaps not precisely. In that the Senate. by virtue of the majority leaders statement. is not tying Its schedule to that of the court. To do otherwise would be the wrong thing to do. in my Judgment. I am glad that the majority leader Is not making his Judgment on that basis at all. I am fully supportive of his not e This "bullet" symbol Identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. J S 9532 CO having done that. fully supportive of the scheduling of the matter as he has Indicated. It gives Senators ample time to study the transcripts. ample time to view the tapes. ample time to give this matter thorough and careful and judicious consideration. So I thank the majority leader. I appreciate the fact that he is telling us at this time what we can expect. Again. I support his position and the reasons therefor.