Trent Lott: “if I could respond to that. First, the conferees on the welfare reform package did meet today--both parties-- and I…”

“if I could respond to that. First, the conferees on the welfare reform package did meet today--both parties-- and I understand they are going to be meeting again in the morning, to work through the differences between the two bodies. In the case of health insurance reform, the small business tax relief package, and the minimum wage issue, I do not see any way it could be concluded without bipartisan cooperation. In fact, we would not have been able to appoint these conferees tonight without a lot of cooperation across the aisle in the Senate and the bicameral cooperation on the other side. When the Congressman from Texas, Mr. Archer, and the Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy, can get together, I think we all can get together. These conferences will proceed in this bipartisan and bicameral manner.”