Trent Lott: “the other issue I want to address is some of the problems we have today. When we have something brought to the Senate…”

“the other issue I want to address is some of the problems we have today. When we have something brought to the Senate that we have to look into, and, in this case, I am referring to the election in Louisiana for the Senate last year, where allegations of fraud have been made, it is incumbent upon us to thoroughly check those allegations out. Unfortunately, the committee charged with jurisdiction in this area has not been able to work together in a bipartisan way to get it done and get the work completed. I want us to reach that point sooner, not later, and I have worked across the aisle to try to come up with a process to make that happen. I thought we had it worked out, again, the last week in July, and at the last minute that fell apart. So, we have to do our job. I am not going to come to the floor of the Senate, look Senators in the eye, and the American people, and say, ``We checked it out thoroughly, there is nothing here,'' or, ``There is a real problem here,'' until all the work that needs to be done has been done. I can't do that. Now we are being told, well, if you continue it, we are going to have delays and obstruction by the Democrats. What are they delaying and obstructing? The Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill, the Superfund reform. Here is a program, Superfund, that is really the laughingstock of America. You care about the environment? Who among us would not care that the program is not working. Lawyers have a grand time.…”