Trent Lott: “Senator Daschle didn't say: No, you have to give me a specific number or I won't go. At least you are showing movement.…”

“Senator Daschle didn't say: No, you have to give me a specific number or I won't go. At least you are showing movement. We need to do this and we need to do it today. I am going to continue to talk about this. I will remind people that we have a deadline, which is April 15. And I remind everybody that the Senate passed this November 16 by a vote of 97 to 2. The House passed it last year. We have been fumbling around with this for 2 whole months. This involves retirement insecurity for millions of Americans. Chairman Grassley has done good work, along with Chairman Enzi and ranking member Kennedy; he wants these conferees appointed. All of the Senators involved are flummoxed that we cannot find a way to come to agreement on this subject. The House passed it 294 to 132 on December 15. And here we are and we cannot get into conference. Is it complicated? Yes. Can it be worked out? Absolutely. Whom are we fooling? There will be three or four people who are going to write this thing. The rest of us will be there as spearholders. Why don't we get on with it. I am concerned about this. I think we ought to be able to get it worked out. The majority leader is the majority leader. He does make the final call on the numbers. You know, when we go to conference, does it need to be cooperative and collaborative? Yes.…”