Abstract

Under a unanimous consent agreement reached in June, the Senate was poised last week to finally vote on ratification of a treaty to outlaw chemical weapons. But on Sept. 12, the Clinton Administration asked—and the Senate leadership agreed—to set aside the agreement. There was no debate, no vote on ratification, and no new date for a vote. An accord negotiated by three Republican Administrations and signed in January 1993 by President Bush was sidetracked, despite its GOP pedigree, by a determined group of conservative Republicans. This group, led by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, apparently garnered enough votes to prevent ratification by the required two-thirds vote and forced the Administration to request postponement of the vote. No vote is expected before the November elections. The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America—whos...

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