Arlen Specter: “This is a very troublesome way to legislate. We have been looking at this issue for more than a year. Senator Feinstein…”

“This is a very troublesome way to legislate. We have been looking at this issue for more than a year. Senator Feinstein introduced legislation, and so did I. And it comes down to the last minute. We have waited in the Chamber all day. I have just talked to the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral McConnell, who says only the Bond bill is acceptable for our security interests. I heard it from him personally. The President is reportedly prepared to sign only the Bond bill. I have just had a hurried conversation with the senior Senator from Michigan, who has handled the negotiations on the Rockefeller bill. He has stipulated three points of concern which I think could be ironed out, Director McConnell says in the course of a couple of hours. But we are not having the couple of hours. Perhaps if both bills fail, we will be back to try this again tomorrow. But as I listened to what Senator Levin has had to say: It would be better if in one spot it said 'foreign persons'--but I believe that is the intent, although it is not really explicit--I think it would be preferable if the Attorney General was not making the certification--a point I have made repeatedly--and there is an element of delay. So to say it is not a perfect bill is again to state the obvious. But I think it is time we have to act and, therefore, I am going to support the Bond bill.”