Lott says he has votes to pass homeland security bill

WASHINGTON -- The Senate's incoming majority leader said Sunday he believes a compromise is close on creating a homeland security department and is confident he has the votes to pass it during the postelection session this week.

President Bush has demanded immediate congressional action after months of delay.

"We hope by Tuesday or Wednesday we could have a bill that would be passed by the Senate by a wide margin," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. "It would be different than probably either side proposed earlier." Negotiators worked over the weekend on a deal, he said.

The Senate's top Democrat, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, said he also believes a compromise can be reached.

Daschle and Lott did not say what shape they expect a compromise to take. A dispute over workers' rights has held up the legislation in the past. Bush has insisted that the department's workers be exempt from collective-bargaining rights.