On the recordSeptember 27, 2013
I thank the Chair for recognizing me and allowing me to follow the Senator from Alabama whose remarks I agree with. I am disappointed in what happened this week. Those of us in the minority learned another lesson for the minority, is to get to a bill we wanted to get to, the majority then has the votes to amend that bill unless some of the majority would happen to side with us. And they did amend the bill in ways that I didn't agree with, taking the provisions out that would have defunded the move toward the health care plan that I think we are going to see more and more of the country isn't ready for. But the bill did go back to the House. The bill was changed from the bill the House sent over. So the bill went back to the House, and they have a chance to see what else they might be able to do--hopefully, in the next few days. But between now and the end of the fiscal year--which is Monday, by the way-- hopefully, we will find a way to make the system work better, will do what we should have done in the budget debate process. As I said here on the floor just a day or 2 ago, the great disappointment is that over and over we have failed to let the process work. Over and over we have failed to bring the bills to the floor, offer amendments, and set the priorities for the country.…
