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"Senate leaders have ended the secrecy with which senators can
put 'holds' on legislation or nominations, a controversial practice used
to delay or block action, especially at the end of a session" (Helen
Dewar, The Washington Post, March 4, 1999).
"While senators can still use holds to stall action, they will
lose their power to do so with anonymity that has made holds such a powerful
weapon in the arsenal of obstruction" (Helen Dewar, The Washington
Post, March 4, 1999).
"From now on, a senator who wants to put a hold on a bill or
nomination will have to notify its sponsor and the committee with jurisdiction
over the issue and give written notification to party leaders. Holds imposed
by staff members will no longer be honored unless accompanied by their senator's
written notification by the end of the next business day" (Helen
Dewar, The Washington Post, March 4, 1999).
The decision, announced by Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and
Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) in a letter to colleagues that
was disclosed yesterday amounted to a personal victory for Sens. Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), who have been fighting for three
years to end the secrecy of holds" (Helen Dewar, The Washington
Post, March 4, 1999).
"What it means is that the fog is starting to lift over the
Senate,' said Wyden. 'Secret holds have become indefensible ... and the
Senate has known it for some time, but this institution changes slowly'"
(Helen Dewar, The Washington Post, March 4, 1999).
"'It will make the Senate more accountable and also help us
be more productive because there's a great deal of wasted energy by members
find out who's holding up their billl' that could better be spent trying
to resolve the problem that led to the hold, added Grassley" (Helen
Dewar, The Washington Post, March 4, 1999).
"While holds are not specifically sanctioned by Senate rules,
they are routinely honored by Senate leaders as an advance warning of other
delaying action, such as a filibuster. They were begun as a courtesy but
over the years became an
instrument of obstruction" (Helen Dewar, The Washington Post,
March 4, 1999).
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