Normally genteel Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, finally reached the end of his rope Thursday against Democrats who he said were ungentlemanly trying to block his bill designed to curb federal regulations.
Hatch had reached an agreement weeks ago with Democrats to pass the bill out of his Judiciary Committee by 6 p.m. Wednesday in exchange for giving them extra time to seek compromises on it.Hatch had agreed to extend that deadline to 1 p.m. Thursday. But when the committee began work Thursday morning, Sens. Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., wanted even more delays to try to push more amendments.
An angry Hatch then abruptly banged his gavel and declared that the bill was passed under the earlier unanimous-consent agreement - which had never been formally changed - and thereby sent the bill to the full Senate. He then adjourned the committee meeting, stunning the Democrats.
Hatch issued a statement that, "It is unfortunate that it has reached the point when bipartisan agreements between members, entered into under what I understood to be good faith, cannot be adhered to."
He noted he had taken several steps to try to be cooperative - including delaying mark-ups to allow extra time for work, agreeing to more than 70 changes to the bill, holding several sessions where Democrats filibustered, and delaying sessions so Democrats could attend the funeral of former Sen. John Stennis, D-Miss.
"It is clear that some of my colleagues on the committee wish to filibuster this measure," Hatch said. "The dilatory efforts of a few members to further delay committee action on this measure will not prevail" - but more delays are expected in the full Senate.
The bill is part of a series of measures to place more restrictions on federal regulators and make it easier for citizens and businesses to challenge new regulations.
It would require agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct more cost-benefit analyses on proposed rules, which could be challenged by petition or in courts.
Hatch says it is in response to widespread complaints that federal rules have become too intrusive - such as wetlands protection that prevents planting on traditional farmland or endangered species rules preventing development without compensation.
EPA Administrator Carol Browner had said the bill would gut environmental laws and that President Clinton would likely veto it. The bill is similar to one passed by the House in March as part of its "Contract with America."