Press Conference with Senate Republican Leadership Subject: End of 108th Session Wrap-Up

October 8, 2004 Friday

HEADLINE: PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SUBJECT: END OF 108TH SESSION WRAP-UP

PARTICIPANTS: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BILL FRIST (R-TN); SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY); SENATOR RICK SANTORUM (R-PA); SENATOR JON KYL (R-AZ); SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R-TX); AND SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA)

LOCATION: S-207, THE CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Well, Bill, let me start by just talking about what we're doing now. We have just, as you know, earlier this week, passed an intelligence reform proposal that dramatically alters the way the executive branch of the federal government pursues terrorists. We are on the floor right now trying to restructure ourselves to better provide oversight for those agencies. We think we're going to end this session on a strong bipartisan note, one of major accomplishment, and I think that will be of enormous significance to the American people.

In addition to that, we are pleased with the progress that's being made in the economy. I think a number of people here will touch on that. Jobs are being produced. The American people realize that a recovery is under way -- 1.9 million jobs over the last year and a half. We think we're making significant progress as we Congress to go home for the elections shortly.

And now I want to hand it over to Senator Santorum.

BREAK IN TEXT
SEN. MCCONNELL: Let me just add one thing on it. As Bill indicated, reforming within the institution is about the toughest work you can do around here. The proposal that's on the floor is not as much as some had hoped, way more than some had wanted, but will still be the most significant internal reform of the Senate since the 1970s. So we think we have made progress. Frankly, I would like to have gone further, but we've gone as far as the full body, which has had an opportunity to vote on all of these measures, would allow us to go. And it will be the most significant reform of this institution since the mid-'70s.

Q Senator, one thing Congress has not done so far is respond to the administration's repeated requests to increase the debt limit before the first-ever default. They said that the debt limit would be reached by early October-I'm not sure exactly what date-but they would move around some funds, but that they would reach the limit of that ability in mid-November. So apparently you're going to have to address that.

Can you tell us how and when you plan to do that? Is that something you'll add on to an omnibus appropriation bill, or do you expect it to move free-standing?