Bob Dole: “I will explain, as will the distinguished chairman of the committee, Senator Roth, explain in some detail what this…”

“I will explain, as will the distinguished chairman of the committee, Senator Roth, explain in some detail what this amendment does. It is a very important amendment. It is about a $10 billion amendment. It is paid for. And it does help make health care more available and more affordable. That is the thrust of this bill and that is why, even though we certainly want to accommodate Senator Kassebaum and Senator Kennedy, as far as amendments are concerned, we think this amendment does improve the bill and it does provide a great deal of opportunity for many Americans who are now denied health care. Let me tell you why. I am committed to passing this bill and the amendment is designed to help make that happen. For many years self-employed individuals have been uncertain as to whether they could deduct their health insurance premiums. And the Democrat-controlled Congress refused to make the deduction permanent to ensure that it would apply year after year. Last year, one of the first things Republicans did when we took control of the House and Senate was to make this deduction permanent, and to increase it to 30 percent. But we said then and we say now that 30 percent is not enough. The amendment I now offer would raise the deduction for the self-employed to 80 percent by phasing in increases over the next 10 years. This will provide equity and much needed tax relief to farmers, small business men and women, and other self-employed Americans.”