Bob Kerrey: “I have chosen to continue to offer to my colleagues reasons why I have chosen to vote against Joel Klein, why I have…”

“I have chosen to continue to offer to my colleagues reasons why I have chosen to vote against Joel Klein, why I have chosen to oppose the nomination. I like the man, I respect him, I believe he is a good individual, and I don't like coming here opposing a nominee that President Clinton sent to the Congress for confirmation. I would like very much to give him my unqualified support, but I simply, Madam President, cannot. About a year and a half ago, many of us in this Chamber who participated in this debate over the Telecommunications Act--and I must say, Madam President, one of the reasons I found myself in opposition to Mr. Klein is I led him to get the Department a role in the Telecommunications Act so that they would have some voice in determining whether or not there could be competition prior to approving the moving of entry from one sector to another.”