Trent Lott: “I agree this is certainly important legislation, and we should continue to look for ways that we can have it freely…”

“I agree this is certainly important legislation, and we should continue to look for ways that we can have it freely debated and amended and move forward. It is my preference to have every Senator have a chance to make his case. I would like to get out of the process we are in, but I want us to stay on the transportation bill and not have this become another debate on campaign finance reform. I have discussed with other Senators amendments they have in mind. I am going to do everything I can to assure every Senator, he or she, who has an amendment will be able to offer it. I would prefer it not be done in this process, if we can work out some kind of arrangement whereby we would not go with this, where any Senator, as is usually the case, can get up and offer an amendment. I want to make sure that amendment has a freestanding opportunity to be fully debated and voted upon. I do not think we can ever complete this legislation without that occurring.”