Bob Dole: “I would like to pass the immigration bill. It seems to me that immigration, particularly illegal immigration, is a very…”

“I would like to pass the immigration bill. It seems to me that immigration, particularly illegal immigration, is a very, very important issue in this country. It has broad bipartisan support. The minimum wage, whatever its merits may be, does not belong on this bill. We waited 3 years into the Clinton administration for anybody to even mention minimum wage. At least, the President never mentioned minimum wage. Since the action on the Senate floor, the President has mentioned, I guess this year, minimum wage 50-some times--not once the previous 3 years. So, it is not too difficult to understand the motivation. Having said that, we are prepared to try to work out some accommodation with my colleagues on the other side, and we hope that we can save some time.”