[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 83 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5983-S5984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

  Mr. LOTT. Before I go to the closing script, I want to comment 
briefly on what I understand is happening with the health insurance 
reform package. I understand that discussions are continuing. I have 
the impression that very good progress is being made. I am hopeful, as 
I know the distinguished majority leader is, that agreement can be 
reached and that this legislation can be taken up early next week.
  Yet I was amused to hear the Senator from Massachusetts, Senator 
Kennedy, a few moments ago, complaining loudly, vociferously about how 
not enough was being done. Actually, what he is complaining about is 
the way it is being done to come to an agreement. It was amusing to me 
because he was complaining about how there were meetings going on and 
they were not being informed or kept advised, yet he immediately 
started talking about exactly what is being discussed. He knows every 
detail. I know he is involved and staff is involved.
  Senator Kassebaum, the Senator from Kansas, who coauthored this 
legislation with the Senator from Massachusetts, is keeping him 
informed. Really, he protests too much. He says they are not involved, 
yet he knows every detail immediately. When we get close to an 
agreement he does not like, he runs to the floor and says, ``My 
goodness.'' Then he continues to complain that members of the minority 
are not involved in discussions. Yet every time we have tried to get 
conferees appointed, the Democrats have objected. I tried it yesterday. 
That way Senator Kennedy, Senator Pell, Senator Moynihan, Senator Biden 
or others would be involved, sitting down in a room discussing the 
solution. The reason they are not directly, formally involved is 
because Senator Kennedy and other Democrats have objected to the 
appointment of conferees.
  We are never going to bring this to a conclusion if we cannot get 
over the hurdle of at least appointing conferees.

[[Page S5984]]

 What they really want is an agreement first. Once we get it all worked 
out, they will have conferees. I think that is a little bit of a 
perversion of how the system usually has worked and how it should work.
  What Senator Kennedy is complaining about with regard to the 
distinguished majority leader is that the majority leader may have a 
little different view of some of the comments. So the inference is if 
Senator Dole does not agree to what Senator Kennedy wants, then it is 
hopeless. That is not the way it works. A lot of progress has been 
made. A lot of concessions have been made by the House to the Senate 
and some from the Senate to the House. The big objection is medical 
savings accounts. There are solutions there. There are compromises that 
are within reach.

  It is a question of choice. Will our people, some day--some day--have 
a chance to decide if maybe they want to put their money in medical 
IRA's? Senator Kennedy wants to block that. Even the President has 
indicated along the way over the last year that he would be willing to 
go with some form of agreement on medical savings accounts. Maybe not 
what they are talking about now, but on a pilot basis, some form. This 
is an idea we ought to try. I hope the conferees or the people who are 
talking about it, since they will not let us appoint conferees, are 
getting close to an agreement. I believe they are. It is encouraging. I 
look forward to our having a chance to take that up next week.

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