Political Quotes

“reserving the right to object, the reason we are not moving forward more quickly is we first had to get some of the holds lifted, and we were able to do that on both sides, and we wanted to make sure there would be no cuts in the physicians payments. We thought if we finished this by early sometime tomorrow, noon or thereabouts, that the payments would not be cut but we don't have that assurance yet. So we are going to have to go ahead. If something comes from the Office of Management and Budget or the White House that that would not happen, we can allow people to go to the events they have around town. In the meantime, I agree with the Republican leader, we should go forward. If something happens during some of these votes so we can finish them tomorrow, fine. But in the meantime, to protect not only the physicians but their patients, we should move forward on this legislation now. I have no objection. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, just briefly, the point to remember here is that at midnight, roughly 5 hours from now, CMS will begin to cut payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients. If we do not act tonight, these cuts of 21 percent will be real. I yield the floor. ____________________”