Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Bingaman substitute. In August of 1994, as a member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, when we were attempting to work out differences with the House, we had adopted in that conference a measure that was debated long on this Senate floor. In fact, the debate went on for several weeks. Four or five cloture votes were held on that matter. I believe we got 57 votes on several occasions, but we were never able to reach that magic figure of 60 to terminate debate and go forward with a revision of the grazing law. Had we done so, Mr. President, we would not be here today debating whether or not the Babbitt regulations were good or bad. We would have been working under a series of rules that would bind one administration to another. Ranchers would have had some defined rules in law to work under. They would have been able to obtain loans on their property, and there would be peace and quiet in 'Ranchland U.S.A.' The problem is, however, Mr. President, that there were those who felt it was better not to adopt that. Following the unsuccessful effort to invoke cloture, even though the majority of this body and the other body approved the compromise, Secretary of Interior Babbitt issued a series of regulations that are now in effect.”