THE FINAL DEBATE

October 13, 1999
		The Senate voted down the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Wednesday, with 51 votes against the treaty, 48 for it and one abstention. Kwame Holman looks at the events on the floor leading up to the treaty's defeat.

Oct. 12, 1999: U.S. Senators discuss the pending CTBT vote. Oct. 11, 1999: Experts discuss the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Oct. 11, 1999: A background report on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Oct. 6, 1999: The Senate holds its first hearings on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. June 1, 1999: Tensions flare between India and Pakistan over Kashmir June 11, 1998: A Newsmaker interview with Jaswant Singh on India's nuclear capabilities June 4, 1998: A discussion on nuclear testing in India and Pakistan May 12, 1998: Tensions grow around India's nuclear tests Nov. 18, 1996: An Online forum on nuclear proliferation More NewsHour Asia and United Nations coverage.     Department of Defense	KWAME HOLMAN: Throughout the day on the Capital Hill, a small group of conservative Republicans refused to agree to postpone a vote that was sure to defeat the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. SEN. JAMES INHOFE: You have to vote it down. You have to bring this up for ratification and reject it formally on the floor of this United States Senate. If you do anything other than that, it is to leave it alive and to force us to comply with this flawed treaty. KWAME HOLMAN: Under Senate rules, it would take the unanimous consent of all 100 Senators to remove the treaty from the Senate's schedule. Oklahoma's James Inhofe was one of four conservative Republicans who resisted, rejecting Minority Leader Tom Daschle's written promise he would not seek to reschedule a vote if Republicans agreed to put off the treaty for now. The firm position of those few Republicans drew the fire of Democrats.
	Pros and cons
	SEN. MAX BAUCUS: Mr. President, this is a no-brainer. It's an absolute no-brainer. It an absolute no brainer - makes no sense, no sense whatsoever for the United States, in disregarding the views of the President of the United States, to bring up the comprehensive test ban treaty knowing it's going to fail. SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: If we defeat this treaty this afternoon, as it appears we are heading to do, it could be one of the most single most irresponsible acts ever by the United States Senate. KWAME HOLMAN: Democratic supporters of the test ban treaty were far short of the 67 votes needed to ratify the treaty, but they still had one last procedural motion available to them. Since the Senate put aside the treaty last night in order to debate an agriculture spending bill, a simple majority of 51 Senators was needed to resume debate on the treaty. Consequently, the Senate's 45 Democrats needed only six Republicans to prevent that from happening. SPOKESMAN: Mr. President, I... SEN. TRENT LOTT: I now move that the Senate resume executive session in order to resume consideration of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty... KWAME HOLMAN: Late this afternoon, once the agriculture bill had been approved, Majority Leader Trent Lott did in fact request that the Senate resume debate on the test ban treaty. The Senate proceeded to vote on Lott's request.
	SPOKESMAN: Mr. Ashcroft. Mr. Baucus. KWAME HOLMAN: Over the past few days, several Republicans, including Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, had recommended the test ban treaty vote be delayed to be considered at another time. SPOKESMAN: Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone. KWAME HOLMAN: But this afternoon, given the chance to join Democrats in preventing the treaty from being brought back to the floor, none of those Republicans took it.
	Returning to the debate
	SPOKESMAN: On this vote, the yeas are 55, the nays are 45, and the motion is agreed to. KWAME HOLMAN: With that straight party line vote, the Senate resumed debate on the test ban treaty. SEN. ROBERT BYRD: Mr. President, I cannot vote today either to approve or to reject the ratification of the comprehensive test ban treaty. I will do something that I have never before done on the Senate floor in my 41 years in the United States Senate. I will vote present. I will do so in the hope that this treaty will some time be returned for consideration under a different set of circumstances in which we can fully and dispassionately explore the ramifications of the treaty and any amendments, conditions, reservations, or statements in regard to it. KWAME HOLMAN: Nevertheless, a vote certain to kill the treaty is expected later tonight.

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