Thomas Daschle: “If I can respond to the distinguished majority leader, first, let me say that nothing, as I understand it, in this…”

“If I can respond to the distinguished majority leader, first, let me say that nothing, as I understand it, in this resolution--again, I have only had a cursory opportunity to look at it--would do anything with regard to the President's actions. The President is going to be able to act with or without this resolution. So the timing of the resolution has no real bearing on the President's decision. We can adopt or reject the amendment and the resolution at any time. That is, I think, what the majority leader's intent would be, to put the Senate on record with regard to the action, not prevent the President from doing so because this resolution does not prevent him; it simply comments on what they view to be the advisability of the resolution. But in answer to the question of the majority leader, let me say, we would want to at least give our colleagues the right to offer amendments. I am not in a position at this moment to come to agreement with regard to what the amendments might or might not be. I simply am asking that in the context of legislation and the Senate rules the regular order be followed.”