Thomas Daschle: “The vote that we are about to cast is not a vote on the bill, nor is it a vote on a filibuster. There is no filibuster…”

“The vote that we are about to cast is not a vote on the bill, nor is it a vote on a filibuster. There is no filibuster occuring at this time. In fact, many of us on this side of the aisle support the intent of this legislation and very much want to work with our colleagues on the other side in an effort to achieve a resolution to this bill at some point in the not too distant future. There essentially are two issues that relate directly to upcoming vote. The first issue relates to the process of considering this bill. There appears to be a rush on the part of the Republicans to pass this legislation. It was rushed through committee. Amendments offered by Democrats were defeated on a party-line vote. We were told in committee, both in the Budget Committee as well as in the Committee on Governmental Affairs, that we would have the opportunity, ample opportunity, to consider amendments here on the floor. And thus the bill was rushed through two committees in the course of a few days. The bill was then rushed to the floor. Despite objections by our Democratic colleagues, the decision was made by the Republicans not to file committee reports. Ultimately, reports were filed after the fact, once the bill had been brought to the floor. Now, we are about to vote on cloture, having only disposed of three Democratic amendments.”