Political Quotes

“so my colleagues know, we had hoped as a result of hours of negotiation--and I am not exaggerating--over the last 48 hours, we would resolve the issue at hand. I mentioned the other day the efforts have gone on for several weeks. Unfortunately, not everybody has seen every dotted ``i'' and crossed ``t,'' and obviously if that is the case, then we cannot get the unanimous consent necessary to either vitiate cloture or to withdraw amendments and consider others. So we are in a situation where the rules of the Senate make it very difficult, if there is not complete agreement on everything, to move forward. Let me say to those who are interested in where this debate is going, we are very close to a resolution of this particular issue that has caused the stall on this bill. It is my fervent hope and belief that come the first of next week we will be able to complete action on this bill. When we get beyond this issue, there are several remaining issues that will need to be voted on. My view is none of them is of such a nature, whether adopted or defeated, that would go to in any way derail the process. On the cloture vote, Members will vote for or against. At this point, it is a matter on which we are going to vote, but it does not go to the issue of whether we are voting for dead dogs or live people or dead people and live dogs. The issue is whether or not we are going to get to an agreement, and I believe we can. I regret we did not have it done by this morning.”