Orrin Hatch: “I first wish to pay tribute to the distinguished chairman of the Finance Committee and the distinguished ranking member…”

“I first wish to pay tribute to the distinguished chairman of the Finance Committee and the distinguished ranking member and Senator Rockefeller, Senator Snowe--so many people--Senator Kennedy, others on the committee, Senator Stabenow, Senator Wyden, folks on our side who have really stood up on this issue, the CHIP issue, Senator Snowe in particular, Senator Smith--I could go right on down the line--Senator Roberts who has been a stalwart. I don't want to leave anybody out. This has been the result of tremendous negotiations over a long period of time, meeting virtually every day, led by the distinguished chairman of the committee. We have lots of issues, lots of difficulties, lots of past experience, mistakes that were made by the administration that have caused us a lot of problems, and yet a desire on the part of virtually everybody to try and do what is right for our children who basically are not being helped by our current health care system. As we know, the CHIP bill works remarkably well. Hardly anybody I know has found fault with the way it has operated. The big problem is that we spent $40 billion over the 10-year authorization of CHIP, from 1997 to today, and it expires this September.”