Political Quotes

“I want to engage the two leaders in a brief colloquy. I have requested an opportunity to bring the two leaders into a short colloquy relative to the urgency of trying to work out a schedule that is compatible with the business at hand of the Senate, and the interests, of course, of our President relative to some of the items he has decided are priorities, including energy and trade promotion, and recognizing the vote we have before us, which is a convoluted vote because we are basically taking up three issues: Cloning, as well as energy and, of course, railroad retirement. What we had hoped to be able to negotiate was an up-or-down vote on an energy bill. As the leader knows, we had a good deal of debate within the committee prior to the change of majority. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4. That is what is before us. The Senator from Alaska is now in the position of wanting to work with the majority leader in ensuring we can expedite the business of the Senate, and I do not initiate undue delays by objecting to unanimous consent agreements.”