Max Baucus

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I don't know if Senator McCaskill is in the Chamber. I doubt she wants to take 1\1/2\ minutes. If not, I will yield back the 1\1/2\ minutes. I understand Senator McCaskill is here now and wishes to speak, so I will try to find a way to squeeze in as much time as I can. You are on.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, is there an order providing for the next half hour?

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent that the Republican side control the next half hour and that the majority control the half hour following that.

Mr. BAUCUS. We won't worry about that yet.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I think the half hour has now turned to our side.

Mr. BAUCUS. I yield to the Senator from Michigan for a request.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I yield to the distinguished senior Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein, 10 minutes.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I yield 10 minutes to the Senator from Virginia, Mr. Webb.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, first, I thank the Senator from Connecticut for his very thoughtful endorsement of this legislation. He is one of the more thoughtful Members of this Chamber, and I want to very much compliment him on his process and his conclusion.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I do not think I have much time remaining--3 minutes. Thank you very much. The Senator from Maine raised the issue of Medicare solvency. I want to remind my colleagues that health care reform extends the solvency of the Medicare trust fund. Whether it is 9 years or 10 years, I am not sure exactly, but the Medicare trust fund is extended for at least that period of time, which I am sure gives great comfort to seniors and near seniors. Health care reform is exactly what the doctor ordered for Medicare's long-term health. The Senator also mentioned a letter from an outside group raising concerns with health care reform. Let me add for the record three of the many letters of endorsement that health care reform has received. The first is from the American Medical Association. I will read one sentence: After careful review and consideration, the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association supports passage of the health system reform legislation under consideration . . . as a step forward in the journey to provide health care for all Americans. In addition, I have a letter from the Federation of American Hospitals: On behalf of the Federation of American Hospitals and our more than 1,000 hospitals throughout the United States, I express our strong support for health reform and the Reconciliation Act of 2010. This legislation is long overdue, and we urge all Senators to seize this historic opportunity. . . . It is signed by Charles Kahn of the Federation of American Hospitals. I also have a statement here from the AARP, the association of retired folks. Basically it states: After a thorough analysis of the reform package, we believe this legislation brings us so much closer to helping millions of older Americans get quality, affordable health care. Again, that is from the AARP. So there are many letters of endorsement, and I ask unanimous consent that these three letters be printed in the Record.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I now ask for 1 hour of debate evenly divided, a half hour on the Republican side and a half hour on the majority side. I ask unanimous consent that we proceed in that respect. I note that the next half hour will be under the control of the Republicans and, as I said earlier, the next half hour is to be controlled by the majority. I note that thereafter the Republicans will be due an amount of time greater than half an hour, and I propose that we balance that out in the next consent.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, might I ask the Senator from South Dakota if he could identify his two amendments for the sake of clarity?

Mr. BAUCUS. I thank the Senator.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, has the time on the Republican side expired?

Mr. BAUCUS. I assume they do not want to use those 25 seconds, hearing no objection. Madam President, we have several speakers. We are waiting for Senator Shaheen, Senator Feingold, Senator Sanders, Senator Nelson, and Senator McCaskill. I do not see any of them right now. While we are waiting, I wish to make a point about CBO's analysis with respect to premiums. The Congressional Budget Office says that the health care reform bill will lower premiums for all--millions--Americans--all. The Congressional Budget Office said health insurance premiums would fall by 14 to 20 percent for the same plan in the individual market and the small group market, up to 2 percent lower. Let me repeat that. The individual market for the same plan, the Congressional Budget Office says premiums will fall under this legislation. They will be lower, they will be less by 14 to 20 percent than the same plan in the individual market, as people buy insurance individually, and premiums for the small group market--that is roughly small business--would be up to 2 percent lower than currently. Why is all that? It is basically because there are savings. The savings come from lower administrative costs, increased competition, and from better pooling of risk. The analogy I like to refer to is Orbitz and Travelocity. Today with Orbitz, you shop online for an airline ticket. You look for fares and you look for times. The same type of operation would occur with respect to insurance--you get on the exchange and shop for insurance. I see the Senator from New Hampshire is now on the floor. I yield 4 minutes to the Senator from New Hampshire.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I yield 6\1/2\ minutes to the Senator from Wisconsin.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 7 minutes to the Senator from Florida, a very valued member of the Finance Committee.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Florida for his very considered and thoughtful conclusion in deciding to vote for this legislation. I deeply appreciate that very much. He is a wonderful member of the committee. Mr. President, I yield 7 minutes to the Senator from Vermont.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, how much time remains on our half hour?

Mr. BAUCUS. I yield 2 minutes 40 seconds to the Senator from Missouri.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I have one unanimous consent request that we continue altering sides of the debate. I ask consent we continuing alternating back and forth, and the next half hour be on the Republican side. I ask unanimous consent the next half hour be controlled by the Republicans and the half hour thereafter be controlled by the majority, and the half hour after that be controlled by Republicans.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, for the information of Senators, the final block of time is reserved to be under the control of the chairman for concluding remarks; that is, prior to a series of votes. I make that statement for the information of Senators.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from New Jersey, Mr. Lautenberg.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I thank my good friend from New Jersey. I am reminded how he led the fight years ago to stop cigarette smoking in airlines. I was so pleased when he did that. I know many millions of Americans who are still pleased. It was he who did it. I yield 10 minutes to the Senator from Oregon, a big leader in health care reform. He has been working health care reform as long as I can remember. I thank the Senator from Oregon.

Mr. BAUCUS. I thank the Senator very much.