Political Quotes

“one of the many interesting challenges this Congress will face is that of fundamental Medicaid reform. The President unveiled an innovative and exciting proposal earlier this year, and the budget that we adopted in April anticipates Congressional action by creating a reserve fund of resources for modernizing Medicaid. Of course, the jobs and growth package presently before us contains a temporary state aid program of $20 billion. Under this interim plan, up to $10 billion will flow through the Medicaid program over the next 18 months. This time-limited spending, proposed in the Senate by Senators Collins and Nelson, as well as Senator Rockefeller, is provisional, lasting only until September 30, 2004. Further, Mr. President, my three colleagues entered a colloquy in the Record on May 14, 2003, to that effect. The language that passed the Senate, and the language contained in the conference report, clearly states that the program itself is repealed in 2004. The Senate sponsors of this provision have acknowledged that the program is not to be permanent, and both the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Grassley, and the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Nickles, agree that this program is to last no longer than September 30, 2004. As the program unfolds, based on the commitment of its sponsors and the chairmen, I will be monitoring to ensure that the program is indeed transient, and will work with colleagues to keep it temporary.”