Don Nickles: “One, I thank my colleague from South Dakota, the minority leader, for his statement. I think that would be a great idea.…”

“One, I thank my colleague from South Dakota, the minority leader, for his statement. I think that would be a great idea. We need to pass these conference reports, and send them to the President. Somebody said, there is a veto threat on one or two of them, and on Commerce-State-Justice. I think there is some work going on right now, and some things could happen that would make it possible for that bill to be signed. I do not know if the President has threatened to veto the tax bill. Regardless, we need to get these completed. It would be great if we could get them completed today or on Monday or Tuesday, but if we could do it today, I think it would be in the interest of all of our colleagues. Certainly, I know Senator Stevens doesn't think it would be humanly possible to get the Labor-HHS bill out before Tuesday, but if we could clear everything else but for the Labor-HHS bill, that would simplify all of our work. I think it would be a real positive thing for our colleagues. So I would be happy to work with my friend and colleague to try to make that happen. Senator Stevens suggested, knowing that Labor-HHS could not be completed until Tuesday for a vote, extending the time for the continuing resolution until Tuesday so we do not require everyone to be here. A lot of us will be here Saturday and Sunday and Monday.”