The Senate meeting exterior shot is the same time of day as the first Jedi council shot, so there's no discrepency to worry about that way.
Huh. You're right. I wonder what I was thinking. In that case, my only real concern is, as a I said before, by dividing the two, you give yourself a long period (okay, five minutes) without any Qui-Gon/Anakin/Jedi stuff. I just think that going so long without any of that stuff breaks up its flow more then intercutting at points were there are already natural pauses does. I dunno. I'll have to try it both ways, and see how it works, once I get my hands on my DVDs.
Oh, and I'm totally on your side, MTHaslett, re. Obi-Wan's lies in ANH. If there's anyway to change it without looking shoddy, do it.