Thomas Daschle: “I can't explain why we have chosen--why our Republican colleagues have chosen--to stay on this legislation even though…”

“I can't explain why we have chosen--why our Republican colleagues have chosen--to stay on this legislation even though we know there are so many more pressing issues that ought to be taken up. I can't explain their intransigence. I can't explain why they want to prolong this debate. I can't explain why they are unwilling to consider the 2.5 million jobs rather than the one job that we continue to debate on the Senate floor. That is inexplicable to me. I just hope the American people understand. We have come back after listening to our people. They made it clear to us what they want us to take up. They want us to deal with the economy.”