Jeff Bingaman: “let me clarify that I think maybe the disagreement here is--I have an instinctive reaction against putting language in…”

“let me clarify that I think maybe the disagreement here is--I have an instinctive reaction against putting language in law that says a point of order can be raised against consideration of any bill which meets the following requirements. It seems to me that it should not be out of order to consider legislation in an important field such as the treatment and disposal of nuclear waste. That is what the Congress was constituted to do, to consider that kind of legislation. And here we are about to pass legislation, the unfunded mandates act, which says that it is out of order for us to consider it. It strikes me that, at least in this area, where clearly there is a Federal interest, clearly there is a history of responsible Federal action --maybe not as responsible as some would like, but at least the main action that has taken place here has clearly been Federal--I believe it is appropriate for us to say to do the reports, but if you are going to legislate in this area, go ahead and bring that legislation to the floor and let the Senate dispose of it, either pass it or defeat it.”