Thomas Daschle: “It is the right of all Senators to fulfill the functions of their responsibilities as U.S. Senators to offer amendments…”

“It is the right of all Senators to fulfill the functions of their responsibilities as U.S. Senators to offer amendments, to have a debate. For us to file cloture, for the Senate to file cloture on a bill of this import, without one speech, without one amendment, without any consideration, is absolutely reprehensible. I am very, very disappointed that the majority leader has seen fit to do it. I guess I would ask, What are they afraid of? What is it they don't want us to offer? What is it about the amendment process that worries our colleagues on the other side? What is it about not having a good debate that so appeals to them? Mr. President, I don't know. But I do know this. Senators on this side of the aisle will continue to fight for our rights to offer amendments, regardless of circumstance. There are many of our colleagues who may support this bill on final passage, and I respect their rights even though I disagree. I personally think this bill is as bad as all the others that have been proposed, and I hope that we have a good debate about how good or how bad this legislation truly is. But for us to start the debate by saying that there will be little or no debate, especially when it comes to our opportunity to offer amendments, precluding the very right of every Senator to be heard, precluding the opportunity for us to offer ways in which we think it could be improved. So we will have this debate over and over and over again.”