So I want to make sure, for the record, that we are going to scale payments back to one-fifth of what they currently are?

Today's hearing highlights another brazen example of Government failure.

To put this number in perspective, Medicaid spending on New York's developmental centers alone exceeded the entire Medicaid budgets of 14 States.

this is an action well deserved, and boy, you are right on top of it

I mean, this is deceiving and fleecing of the American taxpayer.

Do you think it was only because of the Poughkeepsie article that drew our attention that we actually are highlighting and actually are talking about this today?

I think these are real glaring issues that we ought to continue to pay attention to.

Today we have a real chance to address Government failure head-on and reign in abuse and mismanagement of one of the Nation's largest programs.

We have got to have a common-sense application in making sure that people in the know and those making decisions are held accountable for what is right and what is wrong; wouldn't you agree?

Well, we are going to go along those same lines, Ms. Thompson.

That sounds wonderful.

I think part of the conversation should also be talking together about how we are going to improve the ongoing monitoring of our upper payment limit as also another mechanism by which to avoid these kinds of problems.