Cord Byrd: “I put the Senate on notice I will object to that committee meeting after 11:30 today while the Senate is in session. Mr.…”

“I put the Senate on notice I will object to that committee meeting after 11:30 today while the Senate is in session. Mr. President, along that line, may I say I have asked the chairman of the Finance Committee to give some of those of us who are opposed to fast track an opportunity to appear before the committee. I am not on the Finance Committee. I would like to have an opportunity to appear before that committee and speak against fast track. That is all I am asking. I made that personal request of the chairman of the committee yesterday, and he said: Well, I could appear before the committee after it had acted on fast track, after it had marked up the bill. Well, there is no point in my appearing before the committee after it has marked up the bill. That is a really silly suggestion, if I might say so: I will make my impassioned plea to the committee after the committee has met and marked up the bill. Why should I go appear before the committee after that committee has marked up the bill? What a silly proposition. Mr. President, there are those of us--there are a few around here-- who object to fast track. And I am sorry the distinguished chairman of that committee said no. Now, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I don't think I would say that to any Senator. I would not say it to a Republican Senator; I would not say it to a Democratic Senator.”