Political Quotes

“in response to the points made by the Senator from Nevada, obviously the minority do not design the floor schedule. That is the prerogative of the majority. The minority did not preclude the Finance Committee from marking up this legislation. We did not choose to postpone the consideration of a prescription drug package in the Finance Committee. The Senator from Nevada would acknowledge a markup in the Finance Committee was important and essential to achieving the consensus that is so critical in passing any significant piece of legislation. In this instance, we are discussing a package that represents more than $400 billion over the next 10 years. Mr. President, I think everybody would agree the Finance Committee should have had the opportunity to consider that initiative. I cannot think of the last time that creating a new benefit, a new package, or a new program that represents close to $400 billion over the next 10 years, has not had the benefit of a markup in the committee--at least, if you are thinking about enhancing the ability to create the consensus for the final passage of that legislation. So the process was circumvented, for whatever reason, I do not know. But what I do know is what is possible today. I do know if we had the political will, we could resolve the few differences between the positions that were offered on the floor back in July that, regrettably, we didn't have the opportunity to amend or further amend.”