On the recordMarch 25, 2010
the Senate has considered dozens of amendments and motions to the reconciliation bill this week. The vast majority of these proposals were flawed, either because they would have undermined the important consumer, business and taxpayer protections in the health care reform bill signed into law Tuesday, or because they were not offset and thus would have reduced the savings in the reconciliation bill. Some of these proposals, however, did have merit. In particular, amendment No. 3564 by Senator Grassley would have clarified that all congressional employees, as well as certain other Federal employees, must receive their health insurance through the new health insurance exchanges. The health care reform bill already requires 'Members of Congress and congressional staff' to receive care through the exchanges, but I support efforts to remove any ambiguity about who is covered. Another amendment by Senator Grassley, No. 3569, would have slightly increased reimbursements for rural physicians in Wisconsin, building on important provisions in the new law.
