Thomas Daschle: “As to the appropriations bills, the House has sent us five. This is the fourth one that we have taken up. There are…”

“As to the appropriations bills, the House has sent us five. This is the fourth one that we have taken up. There are eight bills that are mired, that are languishing in the House of Representatives because the House Republican leadership cannot appear to find whatever wherewithal may be required to move the legislation forward. They have not sent them to the Senate so, obviously, we cannot bring them up. We are waiting patiently for additional legislative action on the part of the House. I am hopeful they will send it soon because they are the ones who should be embarrassed. I must say the Senator from Oklahoma is certainly within his rights to express himself and in characterizing these votes against cloture in any way he sees fit. That is the right of every Senator. I do not blame him for not wanting to be accused of filibustering this legislation, but I think anyone, just an objective observer would be hard pressed to say: We are not filibustering, but we are going to vote against cloture.”