Cord Byrd: “By denying the minority, the American people were likewise denied. Again, this is arrogance, arrogance, to deny the…”

“By denying the minority, the American people were likewise denied. Again, this is arrogance, arrogance, to deny the minority the right to present its individual and minority views in a committee report. I thought that was what the American people, in part, were sending us a message about. They are tired of this arrogance: ``They know it all, in Washington. They know it all.'' No, there was such a hurry, such a big rush. ``We have a Contract With America. It has to be accepted within 100 days.'' That seems to be the big rush. Up to this point I have been remonstrating and protesting that kind of procedure in the committees. I hope it will not be done again. I am not saying that the same thing may not have happened in times gone by. I would never be one to defend the trampling of a minority's rights in this respect on a major bill, a bill which may be controversial. I think that my colleagues on this side of the aisle deserve to have some time to study the committee report.”