Thomas Daschle: “I thank him and commend him for his powerful statement and the eloquence with which he has described our current…”

“I thank him and commend him for his powerful statement and the eloquence with which he has described our current circumstance. I appreciate especially his interest in reading into the Record many of the concerns the President expressed in his letter to all of us yesterday. I also appreciate his contribution to the caucus as we have attempted to work through how we ought to respond to this very unusual set of circumstances. He is our ranking member on the Committee on Small Business. He indicated to me yesterday that there was no consultation prior to the time this conference report was brought to the Senate. I ask the Senator from Massachusetts if he could elaborate first on what consultation, what degree of communication there was in coming to the floor and in talking about this bill. To what extent was his signature sought prior to the time we came to the floor?”