Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this healthcare bill will affect over 5 million Californians. That is why it is so important that this bill goes to the committees that are in charge of healthcare. It is so that it can get a hearing and members can discuss it and consider changes, and so that the public can understand what is in it. Any bill that is going to bypass our normal floor procedures and be voted on with only one party being heard and being on board should at least go through committee and have an open hearing process. The Democrats introduced a bill to change our process in order to say exactly that any bill that gets the expedited, simple majority reconciliation process of passing the Senate has to at least go through committee and have a hearing. I now ask my colleagues to agree to immediately consider that bill so that we can fix this process before this healthcare bill comes to the floor. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Budget be discharged from further consideration of S. 1376 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Mr. McCONNELL. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Massachusetts. Unanimous Consent Requests--H.R. 1628”