John Spratt: “This budget resolution, the Republican resolution, sets up a so-called reserve fund. It basically says if and when the…”

“This budget resolution, the Republican resolution, sets up a so-called reserve fund. It basically says if and when the Committee on Ways and Means reports a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, along with, coupled to, Medicare reform, whatever that means, then $40 billion is provided for that purpose. Unlike their resolution, our resolution has reconciliation language. That is the whole purpose of having the reconciliation power vested in the Committee on the Budget. We can use this resolution to tell committees they should change basic law to provide for things like drug benefits. We have directed it and we have put up $40 billion also.”