Thomas Daschle: “I share the concern for the growing list of executive nominations. I say to my colleagues that the distinguished…”

“I share the concern for the growing list of executive nominations. I say to my colleagues that the distinguished Republican leader and I and our staffs have been discussing this matter at length over the course of the last couple of weeks. There have been meetings as late as yesterday with the White House with regard to an understanding about how we might go forward. I have not had the opportunity to talk with my staff this morning as to the progress made on those discussions, but I have every reason to believe we have made substantial progress and that we ought to be in a position to begin moving all of those nominations on the calendar next week. I also share his view that when that happens, we do not want to leave them to the end. We may dual track next week to the extent that it is possible with the Defense bill so we can complete work on the Defense bill on schedule but chip away at that Executive Calendar list throughout the week. Certainly, if negotiations have been completed and we have all come to some agreement, it would be my intention to do it perhaps as early as Monday.”