Trent Lott: “I understand those associations are familiar with how this Medicare add-back provision would affect them, and they are…”

I do think that the congestion problem is going to continue to grow until we begin to make tougher decisions.

But, unfortunately, the wheels have come off in the Finance Committee, in the House, in trying to find a way to come together in a bipartisan, nonpartisan way.

I do not want us to have only those speaking who are opposed to the amendment. I know the sponsor, Senator Sununu, is here and will probably want to speak momentarily in support of his amendment. Let me say, to his credit, unlike some of…

I have been watching the Congress pretty closely now for 35 years as a Member of the House and the Senate, and I have been involved in end of sessions 19 times in the Senate, but I must say, it is about as big a mess as I have ever seen…