Thomas Daschle: “I appreciate the announcements regarding the schedule of the distinguished majority leader. I simply say that I think…”

“I appreciate the announcements regarding the schedule of the distinguished majority leader. I simply say that I think the debate on homeland security this week has been a good one. I credit the chairman, as well as our ranking member, Senator Byrd, for the vigorous debate we have had on a number of issues relating to homeland security. We still have a number of amendments left to be resolved today, and I expect it will take a good part of the day before we are able to finish. I can also appreciate the majority leader's desire to get as much work done prior to the August recess as possible, and his desire to move to other appropriations bills is understandable. However, I must say--and I have said privately and publicly--that his decision to wait until next week to begin and then finish the Energy bill leaves open the possibility that we will not finish, unless he is prepared to stay longer than next Friday. We have 382 amendments. That is about 77 amendments a day. I know some of those amendments will melt away, as oftentimes happens. But we have not seen the electricity title. I am told there are other portions of the bill that are being revised as we speak. Senators cannot even offer amendments to those portions of the bill because they have not seen the draft. So it presents some logistical as well as really substantive questions and problems that, unfortunately, complicate the schedule even more and the majority leader's understandable desire to finish.”