Thomas Daschle: “However, we went back in the 103d Congress just to try to find an example or an instance when the majority filled the…”

“However, we went back in the 103d Congress just to try to find an example or an instance when the majority filled the parliamentary tree, filled the tree in every way, to preclude the minority from having an opportunity to offer an amendment. We could not find 10, we could not find 5, we could not find 1 instance where the majority so dominated the political tree--it is a political tree in this case--the parliamentary tree so as not to allow the minority the opportunity to offer any amendments. It is not something the majority did in the past. Even in the most troubling circumstances, the minority had an opportunity to offer an amendment. We had to offer second degrees, and we did. We had to come up with counter strategies, and we did. We never filled the tree and filed cloture and precluded the minority from even having the opportunity to offer an amendment. Having looked at the record from at least that perspective, I do not find an example that could be called a precedent for what is happening right now.”