Bill Nelson: “this is the deadline amendment on the Medicare prescription drug, Medicare Part D, that the Senate has heard about now…”

“this is the deadline amendment on the Medicare prescription drug, Medicare Part D, that the Senate has heard about now over the course of the last 6 months. Each time we have been in a parliamentary procedure where we have been able to receive a majority of votes, in excess of 51 votes, but because of the parliamentary procedure we have found ourselves in, a 60-vote majority was required. Not so today. This amendment can pass with a simple majority vote, according to how many Senators are here, whatever is the simple majority. It is an amendment all of our Senators have been hearing a lot about. As we have gone home to our States, clearly every Senator has received an earful from senior citizens of their States in which the seniors have not only implored but in some cases begged for an extension of the May 15 deadline for signing up for the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Why? Why are senior citizens confused and bewildered and, in some cases, frightened? They are confused because they are facing a multiplicity of plans. For example, in my State of Florida, 18 companies are offering 43 stand-alone plans, 43 prescription drug plans that a senior citizen is to try to make a determination about which is the best for them according to the prescription drugs they need. They are confused and bewildered and, in some cases, frightened. Why are they frightened?…”