Kent Conrad: “Well, I was, in the sense that my colleagues chose me as a conferee, along with the distinguished senior Senator from…”

“Well, I was, in the sense that my colleagues chose me as a conferee, along with the distinguished senior Senator from Maryland, Mr. Sarbanes, as well as the senior Senator from Washington, Mrs. Murray, but we were not invited to any of the working sessions. We were not invited to any of the negotiations. We were not invited to be any part of any of the discussion, other than the one meeting that is required by rule. It was a public session of the conference committee in which we were permitted to make short statements, but we were not part of any negotiation or any discussion. (Mr. ALLEN assumed the Chair.)”