Angie Craig: “this afternoon I want to speak to the issue that many of my colleagues have spoken about. For the first time since…”

“this afternoon I want to speak to the issue that many of my colleagues have spoken about. For the first time since September 11, I have heard an interesting word used by the majority leader of the Senate, the word ``obstruction.'' I am disappointed Senator Daschle has decided that is a word he needs to use to express his concern about where we are in the Senate at this moment. What I will say this afternoon to the majority leader is there is an awful lot about trying to get the work product we are going to offer to the American people next week right correct, well done, before we bring it to the floor. For example, if Senator Daschle had suggested we bring the antiterrorism package to the floor yesterday, we would not have had a completed product. Somebody would have had to stand up and object and say, wait a moment, Tom, somehow you have the cart before the horse. If we spend another 24 hours on it, maybe we can resolve our differences. You know what happened in that 24-hour period? Differences were resolved. The Senate stood in a bipartisan way last night and crafted an antiterrorism package, and the House voted out of committee unanimously in a bipartisan way to resolve it.”