Max Baucus: “four quick points. No. 1, we clearly want to bring this program down for kids, and this legislation does that. No. 2…”

“four quick points. No. 1, we clearly want to bring this program down for kids, and this legislation does that. No. 2, the current expansion--not to point fingers anywhere--is basically as a result of the waivers this administration has given to States. That is the main reason for others. That is the main reason we have expansion to cover adults in States. No. 3, we are addressing this in this bill. We cut back on adults in this bill. But No. 4 is, we want to draw the line here a bit, and not totally cut adults off cold turkey, but, rather, childless adults would be cut back and zeroed out after 2 years, but then parents are phased down. But CBO has said when you do not cover parents, then you are also not covering some kids. The goal is to cover kids. I think the legislation is a fair, good, solid way to restrict coverage of adults, and I urge my colleagues, do not support this amendment, which is too draconian and goes too far.”