Harry Reid: “I say to my friend that I am still the chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and we have a number…”

“I say to my friend that I am still the chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and we have a number of nominations waiting to help Governor Whitman. We have approved a deputy, Linda Fisher. I wanted to make sure she called, and she said she needed that help very badly; and we worked it out so when the Republicans were under control, I made sure that was released and that she could get over there and help. We have a number of people waiting to go to the EPA. Governor Whitman needs help also with running that important entity. I think the Senator should check with people on his side. The reason is that we have been waiting since we took control of the Senate to have a simple organizational resolution passed to allow the committee structure to be effectuated. Rather than having an arrangement where the minority leader, Senator Lott, speaks with the majority leader, Senator Daschle, a committee was formed to meet with Senator Daschle. As we know, any time committees are chosen, it usually slows things down. Someone told me once that a committee was formed to come up with a horse, and the committee came up with a camel. That was their version of a horse. I think the committee is not really serving the Senate well. I have knowledge, and I am sure their intent is good, nothing has happened in all this time. It seems to me the time has come that something should happen.”