--------------------- Forwarded message: From: [log in to unmask] (Donald Craib) Reply-to: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] Date: 96-10-02 10:07:11 EDT Good morning everyone...I think. The Senate recovened yesterday and was still ensnarled in a test of wills over a labor provision in the FAA reauthorization bill. This should again tie up the Senate for most of the day, but the omnimbus parks bill could be brought up if Sen. Murkowski, Senate Democrats, and the administration can work out their differences. Murkowski is still pushing for assurances that some logging would continue in the Tongass National Forest. Senate Minority Leader Daschle called for Murkowski to back off and withdraw his objections, claiming that the parks bill in its current form has broad Senate support. There is no question that the House-passed version of the bill would overwhelmingly pass the Senate, but so long as Murkowski objects to the bill it ain't going anywhere. As I mentioned to some of you yesterday, the Senate is compelled to take up the House-passed bill without adding amendments, because it is extremely unlikely the House--all but formally adjourned with many members out of town--would return to take up a Senate-amended bill. The House is meeting in a pro forma session this week until Congress adjourns. I believe that Republican Senators want to see this bill passed and signed into law. The last thing Republicans can afford now is to appear "anti-environment" with only weeks before the election. The problem is getting Murkowski to release the bill in its presnet form and let it go to the floor for a up or down vote. The message from the public to Republican Senators should be; "tell Murkowski to release the bill now!" I'll be in touch when something happens. Cheers! Donald _____________________________________ Mark your calendar for April 2-6, 1997 The Society for American Archaeology 62nd Annual Meeting Opryland Hotel - Nashville, Tennessee _____________________________________