Kent Conrad: “I have agreed to have these matters resolved because they are urgent matters, and I certainly didn't want to in any way…”

“I have agreed to have these matters resolved because they are urgent matters, and I certainly didn't want to in any way impede action on those items that are absolutely essential. I would very much like to resolve this matter so that the commitments that were made to me yesterday, both privately and publicly, be kept and we can move on. But I was assured yesterday that if I would take down my amendment, we would then go to the Agriculture appropriations bill today so that the amendment could be offered on that bill, with all Senators' rights reserved. That was fair. I did it in good faith. But it is not to me good faith to have commitments made and then not kept. So I find myself in the situation where I have no alternative but to object to other business being done until and unless the commitment that was made to me is kept. That is why we are in this situation. I regret it. I wish we weren't in this situation. But I have been here 20 years, and I have complete respect for other Senators having the right to raise their objections.”