Thomas Daschle: “I have no intention of offering an amendment at this time. As I understand it, we are waiting for Senator McCain to come…”

“I have no intention of offering an amendment at this time. As I understand it, we are waiting for Senator McCain to come to the floor to offer an amendment on campaign finance reform. I hope we could have that debate sometime this afternoon. I hate to see time pass without having the opportunity to talk about the array of issues that are pending before this body. Obviously, campaign finance reform is a matter of great concern to many Senators on both sides of the aisle, and I know Senator McCain and Senator Feingold have indicated their desire to offer an amendment, as I understand it, this afternoon. Senator Lott, now, has expressed a desire to have a vote on campaign finance reform at some point this week. Given Senator Lott's pessimism about its chances for passage, I assume that he believes that he has the necessary votes to defeat the amendment, or to defeat a move to bring cloture on the amendment this week. I will tell you, it will not be the last vote we have on campaign finance reform, because we will offer it again and again. Whether it is Senator Feingold and Senator McCain or others, I think it important that we ultimately have a vote on the issue itself. While we wait on that particular vote and that debate, which I hope will take place sometime soon, I call attention also to the other amendments we wish to offer. We will be offering an amendment on the Patients' Bill of Rights.”