Trent Lott: “I, too, would prefer we go ahead and begin consideration of the ANWR amendment with regard to oil exploration in that…”

“I, too, would prefer we go ahead and begin consideration of the ANWR amendment with regard to oil exploration in that area of Alaska. But we have other amendments that are pending. Work has continued to be done on those issues this afternoon and perhaps, I assume, some in the morning, even while a process is worked out as to exactly how to proceed with the ANWR amendment. One of the problems I understand--it is a legitimate one--is that the amendment Senator Murkowski would like to offer has some provisions that need to have some scoring done. I think that is legitimate. They want to know what it might cost. I think Members are entitled to know that. I presume he could have offered the amendment and had the scoring done over the weekend, but I think both sides were a little bit hesitant to have it offered and just have it kind of hanging out there, not knowing what the final form would be--whether, if it would be modified, we would get into a fuss over second-degree amendments. So I think this is a good way to go. Hopefully, we will be ready to go back to this on Tuesday, deal with the ANWR provisions, deal with the tax provisions, and finish the amendments we have remaining. I still think it is absolutely essential for our country that we get an energy bill.”