Political Quotes

“we are about to take the Medicare vote of the year 2003. Last year, the Senate cast 52 votes for the plan that this amendment would allow us to consider again. It failed with 52 votes because we were operating under a budget resolution which required us to have 60 votes. This amendment will allow us to pass the same prescription drug plan that a majority of Senators wanted to do a year ago. The alternative, if we do not pass this amendment, is going to be to adopt the President's prescription drug plan which will require seniors to be in HMOs in order to have access to prescription drugs. I don't believe that is what this Senate wants to do. The amendment I offer will do two things. It will add $219 billion to the Medicare account; it will put $177 billion over the next 10 years toward deficit reduction. That is a responsible program that will secure a good Medicare prescription drug benefit and make a significant contribution toward deficit reduction. I close by thanking my colleagues Senator Dorgan and Senator Stabenow for their great assistance.”