Cord Byrd: “But I am very disturbed by the fact that here we have before the Senate a measure which is in many ways a measure that…”

“But I am very disturbed by the fact that here we have before the Senate a measure which is in many ways a measure that has not been seen, studied, except for the few hours of yesterday and today we and our staffs have been able to allot to it. This is something new, and we are going to be asked to vote on cloture on this vehicle, this piece of legislation. We are going to be asked to vote on cloture by no later than tomorrow on this matter, and we don't know what is in it. I don't know what is in it. I have had my staff on it since yesterday when it first made its appearance in my office in the form of several separate pages which I hold in my hand, various and sundry pieces of it, almost 500 pages. Here we are going to be asked to vote on cloture on this measure tomorrow. I hope we don't invoke cloture. I hope Senators will not vote to invoke cloture on this matter tomorrow. The Senate is entitled to have more time in studying this measure before we vote on it. The American people are entitled to know more about what is in this bill as it comes to us now from the House, what is in the bill before we vote on cloture. I think people are entitled to that.”