Trent Lott: “let me take this occasion to thank the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee and, in his absence…”

“let me take this occasion to thank the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee and, in his absence, Senator Byrd for his cooperation with Senator Stevens. They work together as a team every day. They do an incredible job. They have one of the toughest jobs in the Congress. I have been working in budget processes now directly for I guess about 20 years. When I was in the House as the whip, I sometimes reluctantly became a participant in those budget renegotiations. They were never easy. But I don't think I have ever seen more fire, lightning, and thunder than we had on this bill, when you compare it to bills of the past that were relatively small in size and various parts. It was very tough. Everything was fought over so aggressively. Things didn't get in, such as Amtrak, and things got in, such as Medicare adjustments. But we found a way to make it happen. We found it very hard to let go. But the Senator from Alaska hung in there. I know he was working at 2 o'clock this morning, and I know he was back at the office today at 6:30. I talked to him sometime between 6:30 and 8 o'clock this morning. The amazing thing was he was sweet and charming and pleasant. Is this the deed? Is this what we have here?”