at all. we're in the same place. as i have said on several occasions and as the administration has affirmed, any viable compromise will need to carry the endorsement of the president before it receives a vote in either house of congress. under these conditions, mr. president, the package presented by the house's new democratic leaders yesterday can only be seen as a time-wasting act of political posturing. it does not carry the support of the president. in fact, the administration indicated yesterday the president would actually veto it, and it cannot earn the support of 60 of my colleagues over here in the senate. my friends across the aisle understand the ground rules perfectly well. they know that a solution will need to be palatable to house democrats and senate republicans alike. they know that making laws takes a presidential signature.