Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator from Virginia for yielding to me. First of all, I would like to talk for a moment about the budget. I am pleased that the Senate is debating a budget. We are required by law to pass one by April 15. It has been a while since we have been able to accomplish that. I am hopeful that the budget will be reconciled with the House-passed budget, giving us the opportunity to develop 12 appropriations bills within this budgetary outline. It is unfortunate that by the nature of a budget, it is a partisan endeavor. The expectation is that no Democrat will vote for the budget that ultimately will pass the Senate today. I hope that doesn't continue to be true in another issue that I am encouraging and am encouraged to know will be considered by the Senate, and that is the sustainable growth rate fix, the so-called SGR fix. Back in 1997, a budget act was passed that created a formula by which physicians are reimbursed under Medicare. That formula has been very damaging to the practice of medicine--the ability to sustain a practice of medicine--particularly in areas of the country in which the population is elderly and patients are generally on Medicare and most of the physicians' income is then derived from reimbursement from the Medicare system. The SGR has created a series of problems. At least annually, there has been a problem we have had to fix.…”