Thomas Daschle: “let me say that the decision we have made represents our best effort to try to deal with the circumstances we currently…”

“let me say that the decision we have made represents our best effort to try to deal with the circumstances we currently have before us. The amendments that are contemplated during the debate on the chemical weapons treaty have not yet been shown to the administration or to Members of this side of the aisle, and for good reasons. They have been working on them, and I do not fault them necessarily for not showing them to us, but we are concerned that the amendments have the opportunity to be considered carefully, that we work with the authors of the legislation over the next few days to see whether we can't resolve the differences that the amendments represent. The administration is desirous of attempting to find some resolution to those amendments so that we can send a clear message as a country about the importance of this treaty as is possible. I appreciate very much again the cooperation of the majority leader in coming to this conclusion. I think it is the right one. He and I had anticipated bringing the treaty up this afternoon and having a good debate, but I think a 1-hour time limit under these circumstances may not be the definition of a good debate on issues of this import.”