I hope he's not going to suggest that we finish this bill over two travel days and a weekend, ... showcasing and posturing.

Our bill is a real plan, theirs is a placebo,

I am pleased that Secretary Thompson has acknowledged the growing scandal over the Medicare drug bill and has pledged an independent inquiry into the misconduct,

We have come up with a delicate, but yes, successful compromise. There is no question all 100 of us could go through this bill with a fine-tooth comb and cherry pick and find improvements... we've got a job to do, the clock is ticking and the work needs to get done.

We're not going to give. We fought very hard to get to this point, ... A meaningful patients' bill of rights is one of the most important things the American people want us to do.

The gimmickry in this bill is enough to make an Enron executive blush.

(They are going to) send another stimulus bill over here and jam us? ... Well, that isn't going to work. You need 60 votes to get something done here. The only way we are going to get something done, to ensure success in the next 72 hours, is to help ... laid-off workers.

They want to pull the bill in a clandestine way. They want to be able to pull the bill with our fingerprints on it. And we're not going to give them that opportunity.

I think the bill would be hard to oppose.