On the recordMarch 25, 2010
Mr. President, this is about geographical equity for all States. The Senate health reform bill just signed into law includes a frontier sweetheart deal that improves Medicare payments for five rural States at the expense of the other 45. The special deal is for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. The Washington Post calls these deals the ``Candy Land'' of the health care bill. Repealing this provision will not kill the bill because it has to go back to the House anyway. My amendment also ensures that Health and Human Services cannot undo the formula fix that my amendment established in the Senate health care bill that is now law. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time of the Senator has expired. The Senator from Montana.
