Judd Gregg: “I understand the intent and the thrust as described by the Senator from Ohio, which I think is appropriate and good. As…”

“I understand the intent and the thrust as described by the Senator from Ohio, which I think is appropriate and good. As I look at the first section, I am wondering. It appears to me that under the definition section it draws union plans in, and they are being given a special status which is really higher than a self-employed plan is given. I am wondering why union plans are suddenly being raised to a special status under the amendment. The basic problem is they do make medical decisions. They are really effectively operating as their own HMO. We thought about how to protect them and give them some help while at the same time preserving their employees' rights to sue just as everybody else has. We came up with a compromise.”