Bill Cassidy

Many workers can't afford to take time off.

Working families are at the core of our social fabric and economic success.

I hope you will continue to fight for what is truly best for our families, by supporting and co-sponsoring the FAMILY Act (S. 337).

It is false compassion if we put forward a plan which cannot be sustained.

I think my final assessment is that it is those lower-income people who do not have the benefit now, that we have limited capacity to raise payroll taxes if we are to make current obligations.

I am very sympathetic to what these small business owners said, which is, I have a small business, and I have thin margins, and I have three employees.

I am very concerned about our ability to pay our current obligations and wonder again if we just are not supplanting with Federal tax dollars for some folks--not for all, because some do not have the benefit.

There is a limit to how much we can raise that payroll tax without adversely affecting employment.

I will say, frankly, my concern is, if these folks who already are getting it now have business subtracting that which they pay and putting the financial burden on the taxpayer, the taxpayer is a little bit worse off.

So if you will, the Federal program would supplant that which business is already doing, which would increase the cost to the Federal taxpayer?

A 2017 Pew poll shows overwhelming majorities of Americans support paid sick leave and paid maternity leave.

American families expect more.

Working families are the core of our social fabric and economic success.

Well, I'm speaking of, say, doxycycline, a pill which I'm told now costs $13.50. It's out there for 50 years. It should cost 50 cents.

What if we extend that to if both agencies have a secure supply chain, that a wholesaler could go to Great Britain and buy a generic drug.

The Martin Shkrelis of the world, who get a single drug and then they raise the price dramatically.

Let me stop--my office has just recently posted a bill, a white paper on how to lower costs.

I agree totally with Senator Bennet. He and I and others are working on a price transparency initiative.

The fact that he died obviously indicates that this was not an effective strategy.

If we are having turnover, and if we are in a health care system and some of that turnover is negatively impacting patients, that is negative for the patient and negative for the taxpayer.

I appreciate your service, and I look forward to working with you on this issue.

I think what we need is a creative way to look at the data.

I appreciate your willingness to serve and appreciate you being here today.

I suspect my colleagues would like to know this information, as well.

I have shared this in the past with previous VA panels. I have been told they would be open, but it has never happened.