Political Quotes

“Let me just conclude from our side by saying a couple things about what the Senator from Colorado is trying to accomplish. We understand his concern about this issue. We do not believe this is the appropriate response or the appropriate measure. This is an extreme response to a legitimate issue. The legitimate issue is making sure small business people all over this country are in fact protected. We have provided in our legislation that unless they make an individual medical decision, which small businesspeople do not, then they are immune from responsibility. No. 2, in addition to that, we are continuing to negotiate with our colleagues--Senator Snowe, the presiding Senator, and others--on this issue, and we expect to have an amendment to offer later today that also will provide further protection for small businessmen. I know that the Presiding Officer and many others on both sides of the aisle care deeply about this issue. This is an extreme response. It will have an extraordinarily bad effect on almost half of the employees in this country. It is outside the mainstream, outside our legislation, outside the Frist-Breaux bill, outside the Norwood-Dingell bill, not supported by the American Medical Association, not supported by any of the health care groups in this country. This is not what needs to be done.…”