Haley Stevens: “I am sad to hear a Senator say that this amendment that is controversial, the amendment to allow exploration and…”

“I am sad to hear a Senator say that this amendment that is controversial, the amendment to allow exploration and development of the Arctic Coastal Plain, has never passed the Senate. It passed the Senate this year as part of the reconciliation package. It passed both bodies in 1995 and was vetoed by President Clinton. With regard to the question of the concept of matters being added to conference reports, we voted in 1995 on a motion to overturn the Chair. It was a motion to overturn the Chair on the aviation reauthorization reform bill. It was the last bill before the Congress at that time. At that time, there was an appeal from the Chair, and there was a vote to overturn the Chair. The Chair was not sustained. On that vote, there were a series of Senators, here now, who voted to disagree with the Chair. We are not changing the rules at all. Rule XXVIII is not affected by the amendment I am presenting to the Senate. I have been around here 37 years. I know the rules. I was chairman of the Rules Committee for a while. As a matter of fact, I think I wrote, during the time I was Rules Committee chair--I am still on the Rules Committee--the comments the Senator read. As a practical matter, the right to disagree with a ruling of the Chair is inherent in any body, any legislature. In Roberts Rules of Order, it is a little different than it is here. But we have the right to appeal the ruling of the Chair. When we do, it is not destroying the rule.…”