[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I want to underscore and confirm we are 
working hard to try to get a bill or bills to the President as quickly 
as we can. The conferences are moving along well. I instructed my folks 
to make sure that Republicans know what is going on with all these 
conference reports. I think we have to show good faith that they are 
going to be some real conferences, and I am confident that will take 
place.
  With all our new rules, with the earmarking rules we have, we cannot 
do things as quickly as we used to. But there has been work going on 
between the staffs--Democratic and Republican staffs--on both sides of 
this building with the Appropriations subcommittees. As a result of 
that, I think the final conference product should move fairly quickly.

                          ____________________