Political Quotes

“I have worked with my caucus and I have other Senators working with each Senator. We have done a number of hotlines to find out amendments that are pending. We have a number of amendments that are pending. People feel very strongly about that. We are not going to finish the bill tonight. I guess if we worked all night, if that would be the choice, it would be by attrition. I think it is just a strange way to do business. I know people want to get the work done, but we have been willing to do this bill for a long time. I have been on the floor and talked about it: Why don't we move to the Defense appropriations bill? We have spent all week on things, but it seems to me we should have been doing things other than estate tax repeal, which we have dealt with so many times. I have already given my speech on that. People know how I feel about that issue. I think we are being totally reasonable. I am not telling the leader he has to file cloture on this bill. I am saying there are a lot of amendments. We have about 50 amendments on our side. We know that as time goes on they will be whittled down. These managers will accept some. The Republicans have amendments. I say with all due respect to my friend, the distinguished majority leader--and I know his job is a lot harder than mine; I know that--we can't finish the Defense bill tonight, as much as he wants to, and as much as the two distinguished managers want to. We just can't do it. It just won't happen.…”