Pete Domenici: “I do not believe we ought to take the HI trust fund off budget. That is what this amendment does. In the budget…”

“I do not believe we ought to take the HI trust fund off budget. That is what this amendment does. In the budget resolution, we have $40 billion for Medicare and we do not accept the President's cuts for Medicare. I think we have done right by Medicare. If we can incorporate these numbers in a bill this year, I think we will be on the right track. This just won't work. Medicare is not a trust fund like Social Security. I am grateful that Senator Ashcroft is trying to do this. He has been a leader in protecting Medicare and Social Security. I do not think this will work. Mr. President, I make a point of order that the amendment is not germane to the budget resolution.”