Nancy L. Johnson: “if we followed the course of action that the gentleman is suggesting, and no one would like to do that more than I; I…”

“if we followed the course of action that the gentleman is suggesting, and no one would like to do that more than I; I think we have to address all of these issues; that is what we did in the payer package and that is what we have to do in the beginning of January. But if we follow the course of action the gentleman is suggesting, the Senate simply will not go along and then we will leave this place with nothing done. The physicians uniquely suffered a 5 percent cut last year, and if there is anything we can do to enable the administration to follow ordinary administrative procedures to prevent an additional cut, we should do it. We do not know this will work, but we do know, because we have been trying, that the Senate will not agree to a package and we have not been able to negotiate that package. So if we follow the gentleman's proposal that we come back with his package to recommit, they will just not accept it, and we will be nowhere. That is what has happened ever since July. Since July, we are nowhere, even though we did our part. We passed a payer package. If they had sent anything over, if they had sent the merest dribble over, we would be able to negotiate a package. I am sorry to have taken the gentleman's time.”