Political Quotes

“Senator Domenici has been extremely helpful in drafting this amendment. I am grateful for his help. Senator Roberts has also been a real leader in this area. I must say I am very disappointed to hear the comments of my friend and colleague from Michigan, Senator Stabenow. There is no one who has worked harder than I on home health care during the last few years. It was the legislation I introduced that was incorporated into the Medicare Refinement Act that we passed that restored some of the cuts to home health agencies. I have been honored to work with the trade associations representing our Nation's home health agencies and have been very humbled and privileged to receive their awards as legislator of the year. For my colleague to suggest that I am offering a sham or phony amendment and to somehow question my sincerity in trying to restore home health care is really most unfortunate and most disappointing. This is, as the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee said, a very real amendment. In fact, a reserve account is the fairest way to address this problem. We are still going to have to pass legislation, whether it is the amendment of the Senator from Michigan that is adopted or whether my version is adopted, to actually carry out the elimination of the 15-percent reduction. But my reserve fund amendment provides a mechanism to bring us closer to that goal by reserving those funds that we need, that $13.7 billion that is necessary.”