Georgia for his comments. We will begin. Thank you to the committee for the opportunity to make these statements as we go into this important process here in the budget committee. First, i have to make these comments, calling this a budget is really a sham. It is not a real budget. That is because it is not really a law, it is a resolution. Everything can be ignored. There are no consequences. The only reason this process is necessary is to get tax reform. The entire budget process is broken. It is a fraud being perpetrated on the American People. I dont think anybody disagrees. It has only worked four times in 43 years. I am encouraged people on both sides of the aisle, some members of this committee, working behind the scenes to try to find a politically neutral platform in which to do our Financial Planning for the federal government. The budget today, under current law, is a political document. Rather than a serious tool to make important fiscal decisions. Make no mistake, this bro
Quorum call during this. Id note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call mr. Durbin mr. President , i come to the floor to discuss the republican tax reform plan and what impact it will have on the Fiscal Health of our nation, but especially the impact it will have on working families across the United States and in my home state of illinois. Ive represented illinois and congress both as a house member and a senator for a number of years. Im proud to say that during my career i have not shied away from tackling big issues, maybe one of the toughest assignments ive ever had was in 2010 president obama created commission on fiscal responsibility and reform known as the Simpson Bowles commission. I was one of 18 democrats and republicans given the responsibility to balance americas budget and reform our Spending Program and our tax code. This is no small task, but it was an important one. We spent month after month in bipartisan
Affordable care act exchanges. Our goal is to stabilize and then lower the costs of premiums and to enable all americans to have access to Health Insurance. Our legislation will be based on the four hearings and other meetings that the senates health, education, Committee Held last month. These hearings and meetings were bipartisan. They were lengthy and they were remarkable in this sense they engained nearly 60 engaged nearly 60 senators from both Political Parties in extensive discussions. We not only had the four hearings which involved the 23 members of our health committee, we invited any other senator to come to a Committee Hearing ahead of time and meet governsors and state commissioners who were of iting testifying. We had extensive participation by 60 members of the United States senate through four hearings and a variety of committee meetings. In the process that developed that senator murray and i have agreed upon. According to witnesses at our hearings, according to the con
Choices of Health Insurance and reduce costsharing subsidies. These subsidies pay for copays and deductibles for millions of lowincome americans who buy Health Insurance on the Affordable Care act exchanges. Our goal is to stabilize and then lower the costs of premiums and to enable all americans to have access to Health Insurance. Our legislation will be based on the four hearings and other meetings that the senates health, education, Committee Held last month. These hearings and meetings were bipartisan. They were lengthy and they were remarkable in this sense they engained nearly 60 engaged nearly 60 senators from both Political Parties in extensive discussions. We not only had the four hearings which involved the 23 members of our health committee, we invited any other senator to come to a Committee Hearing ahead of time and meet governsors and state commissioners who were of iting testifying. We had extensive participation by 60 members of the United States senate through four hea
More choices of help Health Insurance policies and to extend cautionary production subsidies during 2018in and 2019. The subsidies pay for copays and aboutor the bulls for millis of low income americans who buy Health Insurance on the Affordable Care act exchanges. Our goal is to stabilize a number where the cost of premiums and to enable americans to have access to Health Insurance. I legislation will be based on the four hearing and other meetings that the Senate Health education and Labor Pension Committee held last month. Chairman of the committee and senator murray is the rankingom democratic member. Thesee hearings were bipartisan. They were lengthy and they were remarkable in this sense. Then came nearly 60 senators from bothat Political Parties in the discussion to not only have the four hearing which involve the members of our Health Committee, but we invited any to come to a Committee Meeting and meet the governors and state commissioners and others who are testifying. 37 did