Orrin Hatch

Do you believe that a majority of the employers will be incentivized to stop providing health insurance as a result of the employer mandate and penalties under the law?

The health law has so far failed to deliver its promise to reduce premiums for individuals, families, and businesses.

I think I would like to see our medical device regulator start to match what Europe does.

I would like to see that change.

It's clear that in the area of medical devices, we're losing ground to other countries.

I say to my friend from Alabama, confiscating all the income from those earning over $1 million does not even fix 1 year of the 10 years of projected Obama debt. It would cover 244 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes. That is it. Not even 1…

Well, in other words, by our calculations, the savings from this proposal would be even more meager. If Congress enacted this change, we could cover the debt from the Obama budget for all of 15 hours and 47 minutes. Again, this is not…

As you can see, that is what they are doing. I am glad the Senator brought this up. As I just read, my research found that the term ``red herring'' comes from the sport of fox hunting. Again, a red herring argument is one that distracts…

That is right. They are talking about revenue, but the tax increases they are recommending are more distracting than illuminating. I think it is fair to say that all of the talk by the President and his congressional allies about corporate…

I thank my colleagues. I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute and to give the other side an additional minute. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank my colleague for those cogent remarks. My colleague from North Dakota, Senator Hoeven, knows a thing or two about balancing budgets. As a former Governor, he knows this is something States have to do every day. Governors and…

The Senator did. Back in 1997, we lost by one vote. I was leading the fight on the floor. We had 67 votes and one of our Senators flipped on us at the last minute and we lost it by one vote.

I thank the Senator from Utah. He is a wonderful Senator and he serves as a leader in this area. I don't have enough good words to say about my friend from Texas, my colleague, Senator Cornyn, who was a judge on the Supreme Court in Texas…

I agree with the Senator. I think the Senator makes very good points there. Frankly, I know this body very well. I am the most senior Republican. I have been here 35 years. I have seen year after year after year excuses to go into debt…

Gramm-Rudman lasted all but a year and a half, 2 years, before the same people went on a spending spree again, although it was a light spending spree compared to today. Today it is multitrillions of dollars. I have to tell you that has…

Well, that should go way beyond partisanship. If we pass it here by the requisite two-thirds vote and we pass it in the House, which we will, this will be submitted to the States, and then the States can make their determination whether or…

I want to also thank Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike Lee for introducing this important legislation.

I ask that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I thank the Chair. (The remarks of Mr. Hatch pertaining to the submission of S. Con. Res. 23 are located in today's Record under ``Submission of Concurrent Senate Resolutions.'') ____________________

I hope I can stay within the time constraints, but I am not sure. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Utah is recognized.

I ask for enough time to give my remarks this morning and I ask for an equivalent amount of time for the other side. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

PODs be included in the Sunshine Act as far as making public the payments made to physicians through these POD groups.

Troubling issues about PODs.

Now, my main focus in evaluating judicial nominees--I will try and get a little closer here--is whether they are qualified by legal experience as well as their judicial philosophy.

I believe we owe it to them and the American people to act swiftly.