Reid, Bryan favor quick end to impeachment process

Neither Reid nor Bryan would say how they would vote if a Senate trial runs its course. But both said they think there will not be enough votes to convict Clinton and remove him from office.

Bryan said he would settle for a simple censure resolution, but could be open to a more punishing one.

"I don't want to quibble over the language," Bryan said. "It should express strong disapproval of the president's personal conduct."

Reid, Senate minority whip, spent the holidays trying to help craft a censure deal that would avoid a long trial and punish Clinton in some way. He kept in daily contact with Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Reid declined to discuss what censure elements he favors or what kind of censure deal he was trying to put together. He was unsure whether the deal would meet approval.

"I thought ... the Senate should work its will to find out if there was a bipartisan solution," he said. "I mean, 30 or 40 members of each party coming up with something that was fair. That's up in the air at this stage."

Reid and Bryan said they could support a plan floated by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., for a speedy determination of whether a trial should be held.

Under the plan, the Senate would vote whether to hold a trial after giving House impeachment managers and Clinton lawyers one day each to present their cases.

It would need 67 votes to go to trial. If it failed, the Senate would shelve the trial and consider censure instead.

"I don't think we ought to let the firebrands dictate that the country be convulsed with months of impeachment trial proceedings in the Senate," Bryan said. "I see no need for a protracted, extended trial."

Reid and Bryan earlier criticized the House's impeachment of Clinton, saying it was a mistake not to allow a censure vote instead.

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