Thomas Daschle: “I am very disappointed, once again, that our Republican colleagues have objected to doing that. There is absolutely no…”

“I am very disappointed, once again, that our Republican colleagues have objected to doing that. There is absolutely no reason why, with less than 6 weeks left in the session, we leave this Chamber at 10 minutes to 7. How many businesses would survive with an incredible amount of production in front of them if they were to say: We are going to take off work early, we are not going to work a second shift, we are not going to work as if we are in a state of emergency, we are going to treat the situation as business as usual? Mr. President, that is what we are doing with the schedule right now. It is remarkable to me that with little time left in the session, our Republican colleagues are content to go home and in a sense tell the American people: Look, we don't have time to consider your problems. We don't have time to consider the importance of HMO reform or to pass a Patients' Bill of Rights. We don't care; we are going home. Mr. President, that ought not be the message we send the American people.”