Political Quotes

“If I could say through the Chair to the leader, as the leader indicated, we have more than 30 amendments. To vote on those would take 12 hours, or something like that. The two managers last night indicated they thought two-thirds of the amendments that are pending could be accepted by the two managers. We have on our side probably no more than six more amendments to offer on this legislation. Senator Boxer is here to offer her amendment. We have several more that could follow that. Then we have an important amendment that Senators Conrad and Lincoln offered. Senator Lincoln offered it on Friday, but she withdrew it, and she wants to reoffer that today. I think if we do not have some flareup as a result of someone wanting to change the basic components of the bill, it is very likely we can finish this bill in a reasonably short period of time. I hope the two managers, who were meeting after we adjourned last night, have been able to make headway in working through the money we have left over that has created so much interest. Anytime there are a few dollars--and this is more than a few dollars--left on the table, so to speak, there are a lot of people who are after that money. I hope that can be resolved in some fair manner. But if that is the case, then I think you, the distinguished Republican leader, can complete this bill in a reasonably short period of time. On our side, we have done our best to have amendments ready to offer.”