Max Baucus

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Massachusetts. I have spoken with Senator Sessions. He is very kindly and very graciously agreeing that Senator Shaheen from New Hampshire will be able to speak next after Senator Kerry. So Senator Kerry for 3 minutes, and then the remaining 5\1/2\ minutes will be for Senator Shaheen. I also unanimous consent that we be able to proceed until 3 o'clock under the usual form; that is, under the conditions of the last agreement.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 3 minutes to the Senator from Massachusetts. It is also my understanding that the Republican leader may come down at some point after Senator Shaheen speaks and use leader time. That is my understanding--or after Senator Kerry speaks. Whenever he comes, he comes. Thank you.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 2942

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, the Gregg amendment is a killer amendment. It would kill the tax cuts in the bill, kill assistance for copays, kill the Medicaid expansion for the lowest income Americans, kill additional funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Proponents advertise this amendment as protecting Medicare. That is false advertising. The Gregg amendment would kill health care reform. Health care reform would extend the life of the Medicare trust fund by 4 to 5 years. Health care reform would result in commonsense changes, such as decreasing hospital readmissions, decreasing hospital-acquired infections, and paying doctors and hospitals to work together. Health care reform will not reduce guaranteed Medicare benefits. Health care reform would extend the life of the Medicare trust fund. The choice is clear. If you want to vote against tax cuts, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program, vote for the Gregg amendment. If you want to extend the life of Medicare, vote against it.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, for the benefit of all Senators, I want to take a moment to review today's program. This is the seventh day of debate on the health care reform bill. It has been nearly 2\1/2\ weeks since the majority leader moved to proceed to this bill. We have now considered 14 amendments, and we have conducted 10 rollcalls. Between now and 3:15 this afternoon, the Senate will continue to debate the amendment by the Senator from Arkansas, Mrs. Lincoln, on insurance company executive compensation and, at the same time, we will debate the amendment by Senator Ensign limiting attorney's fees. The majority controls the first 60 minutes, and the Republicans will control the next 60 minutes. At 3:15 p.m., the Senate will conduct back-to-back votes on or in relation to the Lincoln amendment and the Ensign amendment. Thereafter, we expect to turn to another Democratic first-degree amendment and another Republican first-degree amendment. That is the lineup at this time. It is possible the Senate may vote on those next two amendments today. As a result, additional votes are possible following the two votes at 3:15. Once again, I thank all Senators for their cooperation and courtesy on this extraordinary weekend session. Mr. President, I suggest that Senator Harkin be next recognized for 7 minutes.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Connecticut all the remaining time, and if he wants to speak for a little longer, I know we can make some accommodations with the other side.

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 2 minutes to the Senator from Arkansas.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, how much time is remaining on our side?

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 9 minutes 39 seconds to my esteemed friend from Vermont.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, how much time remains on this side?

Mr. BAUCUS. A minute and a half. I yield 1 minute to my friend from California.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, let me, in closing, remind Senators that the Senate is about to conduct two back-to-back votes. The first vote will be on the Lincoln amendment on executive compensation. The second vote will be on the Ensign amendment on attorney's fees. Mr. President, I yield back the remaining time.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I object.

Mr. BAUCUS. Reserving the right to object, to be totally candid, these are stunt amendments which we have not seen. I have never heard of the amendments.

Mr. BAUCUS. Reserving the right to object, because I have not even seen these amendments, I object.

Mr. BAUCUS. Will the Senator yield for a question? Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. BAUCUS. Yes.

Mr. BAUCUS. Do the Senators realize and do they know that yesterday the Home Care and Hospice Association, the National Association for Home Care and Hospices, the umbrella organization for home health and hospice, wrote a letter to me, which basically says: [F]or all of these reasons, we support the provisions of your health care reform legislation as it relates to home health care. Is the Senator aware of that letter, the Home Care and Hospice Association's support for this legislation? Is the Senator aware of that letter?

Mr. BAUCUS. This is not on my time because he is going to filibuster over there.

Mr. BAUCUS. If the Senator will yield, with time being equally divided on both sides for this colloquy.

Mr. BAUCUS. I can tell the Senator the deal. I am going to tell the Senator the deal.

Mr. BAUCUS. I will tell the Senator what the deal was.

Mr. BAUCUS. Will the Senator yield to know what the deal was?