Kent Conrad: “I want to rivet this point--there have been no hearings, not a hearing in the Finance Committee, not a hearing in the…”

“I want to rivet this point--there have been no hearings, not a hearing in the Finance Committee, not a hearing in the Agriculture Committee. Members have not been granted the opportunity to question witnesses, experts, company, or advocates on the merits of privatizing eligibility determinations, protections against cost overruns or protections for recipients. I really believe this is a totally unprecedented proposal that is buried in this very large document that sets a precedent that I believe is truly alarming. I hope my colleagues will support the point of order when we vote on it tomorrow. This is, I think, a circumstance in which a very broad proposal is being attempted, being made to ram it through Congress as part of privileged legislation. That is wrong. That is simply wrong. The issue deserves public hearings and full debate.”