Orrin Hatch: “as the Senate considers the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, I want to take…”

“as the Senate considers the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, I want to take this opportunity to comment about several of the provisions included in the bill. This bill contains many important health care provisions affecting both Medicare providers and Medicare beneficiaries. Accordingly, I am delighted that a final agreement has been reached with the White House on these provisions and that the measure is now ready for passage. I also want to take this opportunity to commend the distinguished Chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Roth, for his leadership and persistence over the past several months in moving this critically important legislation. On a personal note, I would be remiss if I did not say that I will miss my colleague and good friend Bill Roth. I am very sorry that he will not be returning to the next Congress to continue the work on which he has labored for so many years. Bill Roth has made a real difference to Americans--he was one of the original believers in across-the-board tax cuts. President Reagan seized on this idea as the way to get our nation out of ``stagflation.'' The tax policy worked and produced one of the longest periods of prosperity in history. Bill Roth was also a father of the individual retirement account, which is a simple way that Americans can help themselves save for retirement.…”