Byron Dorgan: “continuing on my reservation--and it is not my intention to delay the Senator from West Virginia--I want to try to…”

“continuing on my reservation--and it is not my intention to delay the Senator from West Virginia--I want to try to understand what is happening. First, my comments should not in any way suggest that the chairman of the committee hasn't done an extraordinary job. I have great respect for him. But it has been difficult to get amendments up and get votes on them in the last day or two. There are a good number of very important amendments. Under the reservation, I say that we know what has happened to the stock market in the last few days. We know this is a critically important issue--this legislation and the amendments to it. We ought not to treat this lightly. This piece of legislation ought to be on the floor and open for amendment, having a robust discussion on the very important issues dealing with corporate responsibility. Instead, what is happening is we have a couple people on the floor who seem to want to stall this process and prevent amendments from being considered in order. I hope--and I will come back after lunch today--to offer at least two amendments. I want to debate them and get them voted on. At least as a Senator I have a right to do that. It is very important to me that I be able to add these amendments. If the Senate doesn't like them, fine, we will vote. But it is important to me to have that opportunity.”