James M. Jeffords: “I know some of my colleagues here wish to make a few remarks. I hope that everyone over the coming days, before we face…”

“I know some of my colleagues here wish to make a few remarks. I hope that everyone over the coming days, before we face this issue again, whether it is on another vote to invoke cloture or whether it is on another vote --I think it is wise for all of us to take a look at what must be done if we are going to reach a consensus on many issues in this body. As I have tried to let my colleagues know, we worked long and hard, 90 days, on reaching a compromise with the House. The House is very dug in on this issue. We had to make incredibly difficult changes that they would agree to to bring us to a position where I thought we had a bill that could pass the Congress and win support in a highly Democratic city, a highly unionized city, with a very Democratic mayor. I thought that they would agree with the compromise that we reached. It seems difficult for me to perceive or understand as to why this body would disagree with that compromise. If we cannot find a consensus on this issue, what is going to happen when we get to the three major appropriations bills that we still have not dealt with? Are we somehow going to be able to reach a consensus among the House and this body and the White House? We also have other issues with respect to welfare, Medicaid, and all the other issues that are in addition to the appropriations bills, which to me are so much more difficult. If we cannot reach a consensus on this bill, I do not know what the hope is for the future.”