Trent Lott: “I think that could be done quickly. It would take--I don't think it could get done right here and how. I'd like to talk…”

“I think that could be done quickly. It would take--I don't think it could get done right here and how. I'd like to talk further with your leader. One of the problems with the appropriations is they generally begin on the other side. But in furtherance of what you are saying, I have discussed this this morning with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee here in the Senate and with the Speaker of the House. I presume he is consulting with his chairman and others. So I think this is the process by which we might move pretty quickly. I think there are opponents to this. There are urgent things sort of now with regard to some of the disaster programs--perhaps some of the housing programs, perhaps some of the agriculture. There is a need to get this done as soon as possible because of weather considerations and so forth. There is a second and third component. There are some other parts of it, some money that will need to be available and that will be available for months and even years down the line. So there are really two parts of it. The part that is somewhat in the emergency category is different from what we usually have because you are talking about some new programs and some new ideas--which I think have some attractiveness, by the way. I have said that publicly and to the people from your States; I think it is the way to go.…”