Cord Byrd: “House Republicans yesterday criticized the majority leader and the managers of the bill, Senator Lieberman, for not…”

“House Republicans yesterday criticized the majority leader and the managers of the bill, Senator Lieberman, for not moving quickly enough to pass legislation to create a new Homeland Security Department. They accuse the Senate Democratic leadership of endangering the country by not passing legislation. We are going to hear more and more of that. There is no excuse for not giving the people of this country a homeland security bill, said the Speaker of the House yesterday. Let me say again what the Speaker of the House yesterday said: There is no excuse for not giving the people of this country a homeland security bill. What a flimsy argument, with all due respect, and I have great respect for the Speaker. I know the rules of the Senate and the House. I am not going to go beyond that quotation in referring to what the Speaker of the House said. I am not going to go beyond that to in any way appear, in any way, and I do not now appear, even presume; I don't want anyone to presume or to assume or to interpret what I say as any personal criticism of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. But what a flimsy argument.”