Robert Smith: “I rejoice that we have a budget agreement, and that we are working on education reform that puts serious resources…”

“I rejoice that we have a budget agreement, and that we are working on education reform that puts serious resources behind serious reform in our educational system. I am here as well to thank the leaders of the conference committee on the Budget, specifically Senator Domenici and Senator Lott on our side, and others in the House and Senate who have, I am told, preserved the one thing I wanted most in this budget, which was a $28 billion authorization for 3 years to expand health care to the uninsured. I came to this issue not this year, but from the first year I entered public life as an Oregon State senator and won membership on our health care committee. The Oregon's Medicaid program, known as the Oregon Health Plan, has dramatically reduced the number of the working uninsured in the State of Oregon. We have a tradition in our State of trying to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. I express gratitude to my colleagues on the Democrat and Republican side for this budget agreement that will help our State and others do just that.”