Thomas Daschle: “I question why we are here today voting on a bill that we know will be vetoed. If we are going to try to retain the…”

“I question why we are here today voting on a bill that we know will be vetoed. If we are going to try to retain the positive environment... I think a far better course is to defeat this bill, go back downstairs, negotiate seriously with the White House, and come together with Democrats to assure that we can pass a bill overwhelmingly. I do not recall whether I have ever voted against an Education appropriations bill. This may be unprecedented for many of us on this side of the aisle. I am going to join him, and I am going to join with most Democrats, if not all Democrats, in our unanimous opposition to what the bill represents. That is unprecedented. We should not have to be here doing this today.”