Kay Bailey Hutchison: “In fact, I think it should be pointed out for the Record that, on March 18 of this year, the Senate voted 71 to 29 to…”

“In fact, I think it should be pointed out for the Record that, on March 18 of this year, the Senate voted 71 to 29 to protect our States' settlement funds by defeating an amendment that would have directed that states spend at least half of their settlements according to whatever specific list of programs the Secretary of Health and Human Services designated during any given year. Thus, the Senate rejected the notion that the federal government should have an annual veto over more than $140 billion of state funds. I think it is also worth noting that the Hutchison/Graham legislation we introduced this year to protect these state funds from federal seizure had 47 cosponsors, including substantial bipartisan support. The legislation was signed into law by the President on May 21, 1999.”