Thomas Daschle: “We are proposing this because many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said that we do not have time…”

“We are proposing this because many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said that we do not have time to take up a careful consideration of HMO reform; we don't have the ability to consider a number of amendments that ought to be considered with legislation as complex as this. We understand that the Senate has spent days on other bills--150 amendments on the defense bill, over 100 amendments on the highway bill, and over 50 amendments on just about every appropriations bill each. But the Republican leadership has said all we ought to have on HMO reform is three amendments. Why? Because we don't have time. That has been their premise.”