Trent Lott: “If I could just say, Mr. President, that I appreciate the suggestion that a good compromise could be worked out. And…”

“If I could just say, Mr. President, that I appreciate the suggestion that a good compromise could be worked out. And that is why I have not forced the issue this week. I originally planned to have a cloture vote on Friday, probably. But there were requests that we not do that both from the Senator from California and others. I am not interested in trying to make an issue here. This is not an issue I am directly involved in, although it came out of the Commerce Committee, which I serve on. I think it is an important issue, an important conservation issue. It is an issue that affects jobs and fishing areas. Senator Daschle and I both have been receiving calls from the President of the United States saying, please get this legislation up and get it to a conclusion. So my desire is to try to be helpful on this one. At the request of the administration, I am looking for a compromise that will allow us to get it completed in a reasonable period of time. But, if we can't do that, then we will just go with the alternative.”