Trent Lott: “I think progress is being made. Senator Reid has been working. Everybody has been trying to cooperate. I believe, after…”

“I think progress is being made. Senator Reid has been working. Everybody has been trying to cooperate. I believe, after this very important amendment, we will have the substitute, and hopefully we would be ready to go to final passage. I don't want to usurp the majority's role here, but I want people to realize that we are to the point where perhaps we can begin to wrap this up. I thank Senator Kyl for agreeing to not have lengthy debate. He feels very strongly about it, and this is certainly a very good and valuable alternative. One of our greatest concerns about this bill in its present form is health insurance for patients, and what they have available through managed care is not going to be affordable. Rates are going to go up. They are going to lose coverage for a variety of reasons. This provides a low-cost option that will, hopefully, result in more people keeping their coverage. But it is an option. It is not in place of; it is in addition to what will be available otherwise.”