Pete Domenici: “I was en route here and was watching and saw the Senator from Pennsylvania speaking. I got here as fast as I could…”

“I was en route here and was watching and saw the Senator from Pennsylvania speaking. I got here as fast as I could because I was wondering when somebody would say what he has said. Frankly, I am sorry the distinguished President pro tempore is not here, or I would ask him the same question: When do we intend? When would he let us vote on this very important, new Cabinet position and the Cabinet organization that goes with it? I heard much of what he wants to say. I know he wants to win. But I believe it is important that when we are at war, we proceed with some dispatch to give the President what he wants. If the distinguished Senator is going to lose, we all lose sometimes. If he is going to win, maybe he will win sooner than he thinks. But it is taking a long time and getting nowhere. And I think we know the issues on that new piece, that new Department of our Federal Government. I think he ought to let us proceed with it. My further observation has to do with appropriations. You know, we are all tied in knots because we didn't get a budget resolution, and every time we say it, somebody should be here on our side of the aisle because it is not our fault. It is not me as ranking member. It is not my fault. And it is not my fault in any other capacity. I have been on that committee for 25 years, and never did I not get a budget resolution when I was chairman. One way or another, we got a budget resolution.”