Trent Lott: “In response to his question, I was in the hopes that if we could get agreement on the bankruptcy bill and the unrelated…”

“In response to his question, I was in the hopes that if we could get agreement on the bankruptcy bill and the unrelated amendments that would be made in order under the agreement, that would help resolve the problem. The difficulty is, in going through this process where we would in fact both vote to table, first of all, there is a lot of opportunity for mischief in terms of what amendments are offered, objections to time agreements, and how long would it take. That is one thing that worries me. If we do not get cloture and we go through a series of amendments where we have to vote to table them, I worry about the image of us voting to table, even if we could explain it procedurally. But if you vote to table fast track or vote to table agricultural sanctions or you vote to table some of these other things, I would prefer that the Senate not be recorded as having defeated or tabling some of these issues. But the further problem is, if we go through and hold a number of these on this bill, how do we get it done in somewhat of a foreseeable period of time and then be able to get to bankruptcy? I am also worried about what in fact happens if we move to table or try to table or not table. I think the Senator has been right in saying that is where leadership has to weigh in and we have to make sure we get it done.”