 | The Cavalier daily Thursday, May 13, 1971 |  |
Senator Filibusters Bill,
Fights Draft Extension
By Neill Alford III
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) began
guarding the Senate floor today against
any attempt to pass the current draft
proposal before the June 30 deadline.
Mr. Gravel had previously announced
his intention to initiate a filibuster to
block passage to the draft bill before
midnight June 30.
The legislation would extend the draft
authority of President Nixon for two
years, from July 1, 1971 to June 30,
1973.
A spokesman for Mr. Gravel in Washington
said that the Senator considers that he has
already begun his filibuster although he has not
actually taken the floor.
According to the spokesman, Mr. Grave,
hopes that he will be able to keep watch for
any significant progress on the bill while the
Senate debates its amendments. The spokesman
explained that Mr. Gravel feels that "as long as
the clock ticks toward June 30 he is making
progress."
But Mr. Gravel will not actually begin a true
filibuster "for a week or so," according to the
spokesman.
The spokesman declared that Mr. Gravel
believes that there are at least the minimum of
33 senators who will oppose cloture if
supporters of the bill attempt to hasten a vote.
He added that there are several. Southern
senators who, although they support the draft
bill, will oppose a cloture resolution.
More than 200 letters and telegrams have
already been received by Mr. Gravel supporting
his filibuster, according to the spokesman. He
stated that Mr. Gravel expects a large amount
of such mail to influence the opinions of many
senators on the issue.
The Senator anticipates a favorable reaction
to his effort from all over the country, said the
spokesman. He added that there would
probably be "favorable repercussions" abroad if
the draft bill were defeated.
Discussion of the bill yesterday centered on
a proposal to slash U.S. troop strength in
Europe to little more than half its present level.
The Senate agreed to a showdown vote in one
week on the proposal, which was introduced by
Sen. Mike Mansfield (D-Ore.)
White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler
declared that a unilateral reduction of forces
would "destroy the U.S. bargaining position in
any future negotiations"
Mr. Gravel said he believed that supporters
of the administration are stalling on the
amendment in order to lobby against it, but he
said he welcomes any such move.
| The Cavalier daily Thursday, May 13, 1971 | |