Trent Lott: “Well, if I can respond, I have a solution. Let's cut that. Maybe we are not entitled to that.”

I wish to make some opening comments about what happened here and make a plea to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but particularly my own side of the aisle, that we not object to going to consideration of Amtrak legislation. I…

I do not want us to have only those speaking who are opposed to the amendment. I know the sponsor, Senator Sununu, is here and will probably want to speak momentarily in support of his amendment. Let me say, to his credit, unlike some of…

I also think this is a classic chicken-and-egg deal. We tell Amtrak we want them to do better, but yet we don't offer any reforms, challenges, responsibilities to do better. We throw rocks and say: Why aren't you providing better service…

I was accused of being a compromiser or a deal-maker. I didn't know those were dirty words.