Thomas Daschle: “There is no doubt about it. Again, Senator Lott, and I quote a comment he made to reporters that very day, said: ``As…”

“There is no doubt about it. Again, Senator Lott, and I quote a comment he made to reporters that very day, said: ``As far as I can tell at this point, amendments would certainly be in order, would be considered, they might be second-degreed and they certainly would be given a third degree.'' There is no question that we had the clear understanding that there would be an opportunity to have a good debate, offer amendments, have them voted upon and ultimately dispose of this issue. So I am really disappointed we have not been able to reach that point in this debate to date, and this, in my view, is not what we had agreed to last fall.”