Arlen Specter: “We are going to move to enforce the time limits. The managers intend to press to file a cloture petition tomorrow which…”

“We are going to move to enforce the time limits. The managers intend to press to file a cloture petition tomorrow which will require that all amendments be filed by Wednesday at noon and that we take up only germane amendments. We think these rules are the ones which should govern the consideration of this bill. If anybody has nongermane amendments, the floor is open this afternoon, and until cloture is invoked, the germane amendments will be open for consideration tomorrow. I again urge our colleagues to come forward at this time with any amendments which they desire to offer. The distinguished Senator from Iowa was not present to hear my lavish praise about him on Friday afternoon. He is giving me the waving-on signal. The choice is either to praise him again or relegate him to read the Congressional Record, so I choose to renew the praise. He has been a steadfast colleague as we have moved the work of this important subcommittee without partisanship. The gavel has changed hands from time to time between Senator Harkin and me. I know that while he has said some good things about my chairmanship, he prefers to be chairman. I do not know why, but he has maintained that position. In the public interest, when the chairmanship is changed, we use the expression ``a seamless exchange of the gavel.'' Now I do not hand him the gavel, but I hand him the floor seamlessly. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The distinguished, seamless, and steadfast Senator from Iowa is recognized. Mr.…”