On the recordApril 5, 2011
Mr. President, if you say you are for fiscal responsibility, you need to oppose the amendment of my friend from New Jersey. Here is why. The nonpartisan scorekeeper for tax legislation, the Joint Committee on Taxation, tells us that the Menendez amendment puts the savings on the House bill in doubt. That means that if the Menendez amendment is adopted, the House bill will add to the deficit by perhaps as much as $25 billion. The Menendez amendment would maintain the risk of payment of billions in fraudulent, improper, or excessive health insurance exchange subsidies. What is more, the Senate unanimously agreed to a similar offset on the doc fix bill. My friends, if you were against fraudulent, improper, or excessive health insurance payments before, stick to your guns--oppose the Menendez amendment. I yield the floor, and I am prepared to yield back any time we have. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
