Trent Lott: “As a matter of fact, Mr. President, if I can respond to the Senator's reservation, I noted when I read through this that…”

“As a matter of fact, Mr. President, if I can respond to the Senator's reservation, I noted when I read through this that there were a series of amendments that had been offered in a variety of ways affecting this particular area: Three by Senator Chafee, four by myself, one by Senator Roth, one by Senator Rockefeller. So this is quite a laboriously worked-out process. The Senator from Vermont, as a matter of fact, is not particularly happy with some provisions still remaining, and he had an amendment that would have tried to change that. A number of others--Senator Nickles of Oklahoma--I believe, had something. But this unanimous-consent agreement was worked out in a way that a number of Senators decided not to go forward with their objections. I personally don't agree with this, but it is the best way that we could work through about six or eight amendments that were pending in a reasonable and fair way, and it certainly will have another day in court.”