Trent Lott: “But if an objection is heard today for the Environment and Public Works Committee to meet in session this afternoon and…”

“But if an objection is heard today for the Environment and Public Works Committee to meet in session this afternoon and work on marking up a very important environmental bill to clean up hazardous waste sites, that interrupts the process of the appropriations bill. That committee should meet. In my opinion, it should have already met on this issue, and had votes and brought it to a conclusion. So, if an objection is heard to committees meeting, I have no option but to go out for a period of time to allow the committees to do their work. That's a very important part of our process here. So the effect is that you are delaying the appropriations bill. But perhaps objection would not be heard, we wouldn't have to stop for 2 hours this afternoon so that a very important committee could meet. I have indicated to the Senator and to Senator Daschle that we hope that would not be necessary. But, you know, the effect is to delay the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill.”