Thomas Daschle: “I have not held the bill. I have no desire to hold the pension bill. I would like to get on with it. I would like to…”

“I have not held the bill. I have no desire to hold the pension bill. I would like to get on with it. I would like to complete our work on the pension bill. It is, of course, the prerogative of the majority leader and the majority to send the bill to the House once we have completed our work. That has not been done. They are certainly within their rights to make decisions with regard to the disposition of the bill, but it would be in error to say that in any way I am holding the bill. I am withholding our consent to go to conference on the bill, which is a different matter. Obviously, Senator Frist and I have had some conversations about how we proceed with regard to conferences this year. We are unwilling to commit to a process that brought about the unacceptable circumstances in conference last year, especially on the energy bill as well as the Medicare bill. But there are three approaches. First, of course, on any bill, we are certainly within our rights to ask for a conference with the House. What we have simply asked is that if there is a conference, all the conferees be present when deliberations take place. That isn't too much to ask.”