Bob Kerrey: “first, Congress should be making a decision based upon what we think is right. We oftentimes pass defense authorization…”

“first, Congress should be making a decision based upon what we think is right. We oftentimes pass defense authorization bills that have things the President doesn't like. My guess is that the Senator from Virginia has urged the President on many occasions: I understand, Mr. President, you don't like this particular provision, but I urge you to sign it anyway. There are many other good things in the bill. Mr. President, we hope you will sign it because we can't get it any better. That happens all the time here. So the fact that the President signed it does not mean the President concurs. Nor should it cause a Senator to say, just because the President signed it, that doesn't mean it is a good act. We disagree with the President all the time around here. We will get behind him when we like what he is doing, and we will get out in front of him when we do not like what he is doing. That is the appropriate way, I suspect, it ought to be done. Members of the Senate should be deciding: Do we think it is a wise thing? Do we want to restrict future President Bush or future President Gore? It is not accidental that was imposed in 1996. It has not been imposed on previous Presidents. It has been imposed only on this particular President. So whether the President signs the bill or not, in my view, is secondary to the question: Do you think it is a sound policy?”