Mark Dayton: “As I said, you can tell the priorities and what arouses people's passions. I could get really compassionate about the…”

“As I said, you can tell the priorities and what arouses people's passions. I could get really compassionate about the Senate's whole last week and the disaster aid for Minnesota and elsewhere where crops have been devastated by the summer's drought. Many of Minnesota's farmers had their crops totally destroyed. I did not detect as much passion and priority or concern among Members of the caucus, combined, as in one of them tonight for the misfortune falling on thousands of Minnesotans. I get passionate talking about prescription drug coverage for seniors on Medicare, which went to the Republican-controlled conference committee last July and has not come out since. That is only half as good as the resources committed to the Members of Congress, which is why I introduced my 'taste of their own medicine' amendment which passed the Senate months ago by a vote of 93 to 3. It says that prescription drug benefits that Members of Congress receive can be no better than what we vote for seniors and others under Medicare. Over 17,000 Minnesotans were compassionate enough about that principle that they signed a petition at the Minnesota State Fair in 12 days. That is what Minnesotans are passionate about. I could get passionate about learning the truths about the present conditions in Iraq.”