Thomas Daschle: “I guess I begin by saying, here we go again. Once again, the Republicans have put together a package that they know will…”

“I guess I begin by saying, here we go again. Once again, the Republicans have put together a package that they know will go nowhere. We have one of two choices here. We can pass legislation, or we can play games. If this package is good, let us get a little bit more elaborate, more inventive. How about adding campaign finance reform? Why not add MFN for China? Let us add the budget. How about a peace treaty? There may be something in there we could deal with as well. Let us put it all in and pass it in one vote. That seems to be the practice around here these days: Load it up, no amendments, no debate and that is it. 'We're telling you, you have to do it this way or there's not going to be anything at all.' Mr. President, that is unacceptable. They would not have stood for it 2 years ago and we cannot stand for it now. We have suggested a way with which to resolve our outstanding differences here procedurally. We ought to have an up-or-down vote on minimum wage.”