Byron Dorgan: “I was thinking about the stories I read about the difficulty of moving a wagon train across the West. They usually came…”

“I was thinking about the stories I read about the difficulty of moving a wagon train across the West. They usually came through North Dakota. The difficulty with moving wagon trains was that a wagon train could only move under any condition as fast as the slowest wagon. I am reminded of that pace when I watch the Senate from time to time. The Senator from Oregon is talking about those who want to offer amendments should really be here to do it, otherwise, we perhaps ought to move to third reading. This body is full of a lot of wonderful people and it is full of, occasionally, a few bad habits. One of those bad habits that all of us probably have is not getting here to offer the amendments when we should. I think from time to time, we ought to consider going to third reading if nobody is around with amendments. We should never disadvantage a Member of this body who wants to offer an amendment, who wishes to offer a legislative initiative. They have every right to do that under every circumstance. But it seems to me from time to time we ought to try to find some pressure to move ahead with more dispatch, and one way to do that is to serve ample notice to anybody who wants to offer an amendment, to say now is the time. If time elapses, I encourage those who manage the bill, let us move ahead and consider third reading. I know they are reluctant to do that.”