Max Baucus

Like Senator Cardin pointed out, we have a big access challenge on our hands.

might I ask the Senator from Rhode Island how much time he wishes to speak?

Now that we have a blank slate, we are asking all Senators; that is, all Senators, Senators on the committee, Senators off the committee--to submit detailed legislative proposals; that is tax expenditures, the credits, the deductions…

The philosopher Bertrand Russell said, ``The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating a problem in a way that will allow a solution.'' I come to the floor today with my good friend Senator Orrin Hatch to state our concerns about a…

on July 12, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS announced a new initiative to allow States to experiment under the temporary assistance for needy families, TANF, block grant. The HHS initiative would waive some Federal…

First, I very much thank my colleague from Rhode Island for all his work in many areas, a great Senator, a great statesman, and a great representative to the people in the State of Rhode Island, and also for his work on the resource…

I thank Senator Hatch. It is mutual. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire. ____________________

I am fine. I think we should wait, let the Senator from Rhode Island proceed with his statement, and if the Senator from South Carolina wants to go ahead----

I might say this blank slate is not, of course, the end of the discussion. You do not clear the decks and stop. Some of the provisions in the code obviously serve very important objectives. That is why they made it there in the first…

We also need to remember, this is not just about tax expenditures. There is much more to it than confining our discussion to tax expenditures, because at its core tax reform means making the Tax Code more fair, easier to deal with for…

Quality is everyone's responsibility.

I think this is a very ripe area for that.

Chairman Baucus mentioned the almost 60-percent decrease in some hospital bloodstream infections, saving thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.

Making sure the government spends Medicare dollars wisely is one of our chief responsibilities.

Chairman Baucus, Senator Hatch, members of the committee, thank you very much for the opportunity to appear before you today.

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tax Reform

just outside this Chamber is a bust of President Theodore Roosevelt. When I walk past it, I am often reminded of one of my favorite T.R. quotes, which is, ``Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at…

the Finance Committee reported out the nomination of Michael Froman to be USTR unanimously. It is rare that I speak so highly of somebody. I can think of many top administration officials who are very good. Michael Froman will be another…

is there any time remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana. There is no time remaining.

I would ask for 10 or 15 seconds. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, so ordered. The Senator from Montana.

I would say to my good friend from Massachusetts that if she will work with us, we will work with Mr. Froman to make sure he answers all of our questions. I plan to work with the Senator to get answers to the questions. I was unaware of…

I believe the greatest potential for obtaining lower prices comes from approaches where purchasers and health plans, rather than report prices to enrollees, analyze the complex data on costs and quality and provide simple incentives for…

I think Senator Schumer is correct when he said market forces have a hard time in this area.

Frankly, the Affordable Care Act was an attempt to come up with, in my view, a uniquely American solution.