Max Baucus: “I listened very closely to my good friend from Tennessee. I, first, want to make it very clear that the amendment I am…”

“I listened very closely to my good friend from Tennessee. I, first, want to make it very clear that the amendment I am offering does contemplate reform, because I do believe we need to move this year to begin Medicare reform at the same time we are providing prescription drug benefits. I want to clear the air on that. Second, I do not want to belabor this argument. We will be voting very soon. But just to remind Senators, there is a big difference between my amendment and the amendment on the other side. We have the same number of dollars $300 billion for a prescription drug benefit. But the amendment offered by Senator Graham and I is definite. It prescribes a prescription drug benefit. The other amendment says ``maybe,'' and maybe out of a contingency fund. I want to make this point because it is so glaringly true. We all know there ``ain't'' no money in the contingency fund. There just ``ain't.'' And the reason is because it has been called for so many times--whether for such reasonable things as agricultural provisions, disaster assistance or other provisions in the Tax Code. There isn't going to be a contingency fund by any stretch of the imagination. It is just a hope and a prayer at best. Or else it comes out of the hospital insurance trust fund. And, of course, that is not a great option. So essentially what it comes down to is this: You have a choice, Senators: You vote for a prescription for prescription drugs or you say: Call me in the morning.…”