Max Baucus: “I know the people in the State of Arkansas already know how much their Senator fights for them. I state my perspective…”

“I know the people in the State of Arkansas already know how much their Senator fights for them. I state my perspective: The Senator from Arkansas is one of the best. She is a believer. She fights for her people and all are grateful for that. I make a couple of points. One, this legislation to help the health care needs of evacuees and victims of Katrina is desperately needed. It will pass. It is a question of when that willful band of three or four Senators will finally recognize that so we can get on with it and help people who really need some people. That is what this comes down to. I hear a couple of complaints about this legislation. Let me briefly explain what this is all about. Basically, this is an effort to help people. It is a modest effort. It is legislation designed by the chairman of the committee, Senator Grassley, a Republican, and myself, the ranking Democrat. We have worked with all the members of the committee. We have worked with staffs of the committees. We have worked with Senators from States directly affected, asking their views. This has been scrubbed. This has been examined. This has been worked over many days in many ways. It is balanced. It is not nearly as extreme as some of the suggestions of some Senators.…”