Political Quotes

“Of course. Madam President, no one questions the fairness of the Senator from Iowa. I was present in the LBJ Room when Senator Daschle explained to the Democrat Senators the process that was taking place to try to come up with a consensus on the stimulus package. He said he wanted to make sure when negotiations take place it comes back here and by more than a majority. I may be paraphrasing. The two-thirds was never mentioned. That is something that just kind of developed. I was there, and I think the Presiding Officer was there. But 'two-thirds' has come up, and it is really not valid. Maybe Senator Daschle could be criticized for saying he needed more than a majority, I say to my friend from Iowa, in that the procedure was a little unique, but Senator Daschle--I really can't speak for him, but I was at the meeting--wanted to make sure that everyone understood that this was an unusual process, and he would make sure, when he brought it back, that he would go over it with everybody before it was approved. Again, I say to my friend from Iowa, there was no two-thirds rule that Senator Daschle set. I was at the meeting.”