Well, and I heard the brilliant gentleman Frank Luntz at a focus group that analyzed the summit. Fifteen of the people in there had voted for President Obama, 15 of them had voted for John McCain, and it was interesting to hear some of the…

Well, I would direct your attention to the Declaration of Health Care Independence. I know my friend Mr. Akin was there when we unveiled that declaration here in the Capitol when I think we've got 100 or more Members of Congress that have…

I'm sure the gentleman then would agree there is no need for further study or to try to look for ways to have alternative resolutions to medical malpractice disputes. We've seen what works, and yet it's not going to force States to get rid…

No. Actually, pain and suffering is noneconomic damages. So attorneys' fees and things like pain and suffering, which is hard to put a figure on.

If the Supreme Court takes a fair and literal look at the Constitution, they will know this was not an enumerated power reserved to the Federal Government. Therefore, under the 10th Amendment, it's reserved to the States and the people. I…

That's exactly right. And I know the President before us mentioned--well, you know, States require you to buy car insurance. The fact is, you buy insurance for the privilege, as the law has determined, to drive on the road. You don't have…

The gentleman is correct. And one of the great ironies in this is we have so many friends across the aisle that I know are very sincere when they believe with all their hearts they want to help what they call the little guy in America. I…

The gentleman is exactly correct. If you go on further, everybody that is offering insurance in an area has to offer the same exact basic plan. It is a basic plan. And then if an insurance company provides that one basic plan, they may…

Absolutely. We would have even more information. And that would be more helpful. But the best we can tell, since the President did not propose a specific bill, once again very elusive in what is being proposed, page 167 does not appear to…

The gentleman asks a good question. I appreciate the question, because once again, that affords great insight. If you look over at page 167 of the bill that was passed in the House, and as best I can tell, even though all we have is the…

One of the things I love about being on the same committee with the gentleman from Utah is he may not be a lawyer, but he has incredible insight and discernment and can shoot right to the crux of an issue. So when we do that, as the…

The answer is that yes, you can keep your plan if you like it for maybe a year, then you lose it. Maybe 2 if you are lucky. On the other part, if you like your doctor--and the gentleman from Utah has quoted it exactly. I have the text of…

It is a privilege to be on the floor any time when you know the history of this place and what all is going on before us. I'm so grateful for my friend from Missouri, my friend from Utah pointing out such important things about the health…

I thank the gentleman from Minnesota. Truly, the examples that were given here today of children who have lost their lives, children who have suffered is untenable. There is nobody in this body that I can imagine who would think this is…

Well, the gentleman is accurate. It is the reverse, but the States are not going to be told, You have to get rid of your caps. We have already seen in Texas and California medical malpractice insurance rates come plummeting down.

As a sixth-generation native Texan, I want to commend you for honoring Texas Independence Day, March 2, the 174th birthday of the Republic of Texas. I commend you for the fine work that you do, not just for your constituency in the Houston…

Mr. President, after all we have done to work with the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he still complains. I am amazed. This nominee seems to be a solid nominee. The President has due deference on nominees, and I think…

Mr. President, there is always an easy way to get something done in this body, and that is to spend money and not pay for it. And I am sure that gets a lot of Democratic votes and they could just pass this bill right through the body. I am…