FOR COLLEGE EDUCATION EXPENSES. THE REPUBLICAN IDEA IS THAT WE
           WOULD COME THROUGH WITH AN ESTATE TAX CUT THAT WOULD GIVE AN
           AVERAGE $23,000 A YEAR TAX BREAK TO PEOPLE MAKING $900,000 A
           YEAR. AND YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, WHAT IS OF MORE VALUE TO THE
           FUTURE OF AMERICA?
           SOMEONE WHO GETS $2,000 MORE A MONTH TO PUT IN INVESTMENT OR
           ANOTHER VACATION HOME OR A FAMILY THAT TAKES A TAX BREAK
           OFFERED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND HELPS THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER
           GO TO THE VERY BEST COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT THEY CAN BE
           ACCEPTED TO?

           AND SECONDLY, THE WORKING FAMILIES THAT I KNOW WHO ARE
           STRUGGLING WITH THE CONCEPT OF DAY CARE, WHAT TO DO WITH THE
           CHILDREN DURING THE DAY SO THAT YOU HAVE PEACE OF MIND, SO THAT
           THE CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT, SOME WORKING
           PEOPLE CHOOSE DAY-CARE CENTERS IN THEIR HOME TOWNS. THEY CAN BE
           VERY EXPENSIVE. I KNOW THAT MY GRANDSON IS IN A DAY CARE, A
           VERY GOOD ONE, AND I'M HAPPY HE IS THERE. BUT MANY FAMILIES
           DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY. THEY CAN'T TURN TO GOOD DAY CARE
           BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT. AND WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILY THAT

           DECIDES THAT INSTEAD OF BOTH PARENTS WORKING, ONE WILL STAY
           HOME TO CARE FOR THE CHILD?
           THAT'S A GOOD DECISION TO MAKE IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO MAKE IT.
           WELL, WE SUGGESTED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THIS IS ANOTHER
           CHANGE IN TAX POLICY THAT IS FAR BETTER FOR AMERICA THAN TO
           GIVE TAX BREAKS TO WEALTHY PEOPLE. SENATOR DODD OF CONNECTICUT
           CAME TO THE FLOOR AND SAID, LET'S HELP FAMILIES PAY FOR
           DAY-CARE CENTER EXPENSES WITH A TAX CREDIT OR OFFER A TAX
           CREDIT TO MOTHERS WHO WILL STAY AT HOME WITH CHILDREN SO THAT

           THEY'LL GET A HELPING HAND TOO. I THINK THAT'S EMINENTLY
           SENSIBLE. WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THEIR
           LIFE REALLY ARE FORMING THEIR MINDS AND THEIR VALUES, AND WE
           WANT THEM TO BE IN THE VERY BEST ENVIRONMENT. AND IF THEY GET
           OFF TO A GOOD START, MANY KIDS WILL DO WELL IN SCHOOL AND HAVE
           A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM. BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
           COIN, IF CHILDREN ARE BEING PUSHED AND SHOVED FROM ONE
           INCOMPETENT AND DANGEROUS BABY SITTER TO THE NEXT, IT REALLY IS
           RISKY, AND IT'S SOMETHING NO FAMILY WOULD WANT TO FACE. SO ON

           THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, INSTEAD OF TAX BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY, WE
           WANT TO TARGET TAX BREAKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND
           THE WAY TO KEEP A PARENT AT HOME TO WATCH A CHILD OR TO PAY FOR
           DAY CARE. A THIRD AREA THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IS THE WHOLE
           QUESTION OF LONG-TERM CARE. BABY BOOMERS UNDERSTAND THIS. THEIR
           PARENTS, THEIR GRANDPARENTS ARE REACHING AN AGE WHERE THEY NEED
           SPECIAL ATTENTION, SPECIAL HELP, SPECIAL CARE. MUCH OF IT'S
           EXPENSIVE. AND FAMILIES ARE MAKING SACRIFICES FOR THEIR
           PARENTS, ELDERLY AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE THINK THEY DESERVE A
           HELPING HAND. WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER AND

           HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WE PROPOSED THAT WE HAVE A TAX BREAK
           THAT WILL HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE
           AND CARING FOR THEIR PARENTS AND ELDERLY PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE
           TYPES OF TARGETED TAX BREAKS WHICH THE DEMOCRATS SUPPORT.
           DEDUCTION OF COLLEGE EDUCATION EXPENSES, HELP FOR DAY CARE AND
           TO KEEP PARENTS AT HOME SO THAT THEY CAN WATCH THEIR CHILDREN,
           HELP FOR LONG-TERM CARE AND TO TAKE CARE OF OUR AGING PARENTS.
           THIS IS OUR CONCEPT OF TARGETED TAX RELIEF. THE REPUBLICAN

           CONCEPT OF TAX RELIEF IS A $23,000 ANNUAL TAX BREAK FOR PEOPLE
           MAKING OVER $300,000 A YEAR. I WOULD FRANKLY TAKE THIS ISSUE
           ANYWHERE IN MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS. I'D LIKE TO ARGUE THIS
           POINT AS TO WHETHER WE TAKE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM
           THE MOST EXCEEDINGLY GENEROUS TAX BREAKS OR LOOK AT 98% OF
           AMERICA'S FAMILIES WHO WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE REALITIES OF
           LIFE. I'M GLAD THAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS HERE
           TODAY, AND IRD BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO HIM AT ANY POINT. BUT I
           WANT TO MAKE E POINT BEFORE I DO. THERE ARE MANY OTHER ISSUES

           WHICH ARE LANGUISHING IN THIS CONGRESS WHICH NEED TO BE
           ADDRESSED. ISSUES WHICH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LOOK TO US FOR FOR
           LEADERSHIP. LET ME GIVE YOU JUST A COUPLE SO THAT YOU CAN
           UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION MANY TIMES OF DEALING WITH REAL-LIFE
           PROBLEMS AT HOME IN THIS DISNEYLAND SITUATION HERE ON CAPITOL
           HILL. THE PEOPLE NEED TO BE REPRESENTED IN THIS CHAMBER, NOT
           THE POWERFUL. THE POWERFUL HAVE THEIR LOBBYISTS. THE SPECIAL
           INTERESTS HAVE THEIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES. AND THEY HAVE
           SHOWN EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH WHEN IT COMES TO STOPPING ISSUES

           THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT. ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS JUST A FEW.
           PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT UNDER MEDICARE. DO YOU THINK THERE'S
           ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO IN AMERICA THAT IS FAIRER OR
           BETTER FOR OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED THAN TO GIVE THEM THE
           OPPORTUNITY TO AFFORD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
           IS IT NOT SCANDALOUS THAT SENIOR CITIZENS IN MANY STATES GET IN
           BUSES AND TAKE 100-MILE TRIPS OVER THE BORDER INTO CANADA DO
           BUY THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, THE SAME DRUGS MANUFACTURED IN
           THE UNITED STATES, APPROVED FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE
           PURCHASED IN CANADA FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST?

           IS IT NOT SCANDALOUS AND DISGRACEFUL THAT SENIOR CITIZENS
           ACROSS AMERICA, WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE PRESCRIPTIONS FROM THEIR
           DOCTOR AND THEY'RE TOLD, TAKE THIS MEDICINE, YOU'LL BE STRONG
           AND HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT IF YOU DO, CAN'T AFFORD TO FILL THE
           PRESCRIPTION, GO TO THE DOOR AND FIND THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE
           BETWEEN FOOD AND MEDICINE, FILL THE PRESCRIPTION AND TAKE HALF
           OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT?
           THAT IS A REALITY OF LIFE, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD
           ADDRESS. AND THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS CONGRESS HAS
           FAILED TO COME UP WITH A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT UNDER

           MEDICARE. OH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF OR
           LONGER. THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED FOR IT FOR YEARS. BUT THE
           REPUBLICAN CONGRESS SAYS NO. AND WHY?
           BECAUSE THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, WHICH ARE ENJOYING SOME
           OF THE GREATEST PROFITS IN THEIR HISTORY, DON'T WANT TO SEE
           THIS PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT. THEY KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE THE
           BARGAINING POWER UNDER MEDICARE TO KEEP PRICES UNDER CONTROL,
           THEIR PROFIT MARGINS MIGHT SLIP. AND SO ONCE AGN THE POWERFUL,
           THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
           PREVAILING. THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER TO THIS IS, WHY DON'T WE TURN

           TO THE SAME INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT OFFER US H.M.O.'S AND
           MANAGED CARE AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD OFFER A PRESCRIPTION
           DRUG BENEFIT?
           WELL, EXCUSE ME IF I'M SKEPTICAL, BUT WE KNOW WHAT THIS
           H.M.O.'S AND MANAGED CARE COMPANIES HAVE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO
           LIFE-AND-DEATH DECISIONS ON MEDICAL CARE. TOO MANY TIMES THEY
           SAY NO WHEN THEY SHOULD SAY YES. PEOPLE ARE FORCED INTO COURT
           BEFORE JUDGES TO PLEAD AND BEG AND DO THEIR VERY BEST TO GET
           THE BASIC CARE THEY NEED TO SURVIVE. IS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO
           SEE WHEN IT COMES TO LIFESAVING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?

           ANOTHER BATTLE BETWEEN AMERICA'S FAMILIES AND THESE INSURANCE
           COMPANIES?
           WE JUST RECEIVED A REPORT RECENTLY ABOUT OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
           WHO HAVE LOST THEIR H.M.O. MEDICARE POLICIES, CANCELLED BECAUSE
           THE COMPANIES DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.
           THE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT'S THE ANSWER ON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
           UNDER MEDICARE. WE DON'T BELIEVE SO. WE THINK IT SHOULD BE A
           UNIVERSAL GUARANTEED PROGRAM UNDER MEDICARE, ONE THAT YOU CAN
           FEEL CONFIDENT WILL ALLOW YOUR DOCTOR TO GIVE YOU A
           PRESCRIPTION WHICH YOU CAN FILL AND WILL ALLOW YOU TO AFFORD TO

           BE ABLE TO FILL IT. THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE STOPPED IN THIS
           REPUBLICAN CONGRESS BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. THE PATIENTS'
           BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH MY COLLEAGUE FROM MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN
           A LEADER ON, THIS IS SOMETHING, AN ISSUE WHICH SAYS LET THE
           DOCTORS MAKE THE DECISIONS, NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. WE'VE
           LOST THAT ISSUE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. WE RAISED THAT
           ISSUE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY PREVAILED. THEY WOULD NOT LET
           SENATOR KENNEDY'S BILL COME FORWARD, WHICH WOULD GIVE PEOPLE
           ACROSS AMERICA THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE BEST
           MEDICAL CARE AND DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT WITH A CLERK FROM AN
           INSURANCE COMPANY ON QUESTIONS OF LIFE OR DEATH WHEN IT COMES

           TO THE MEDICAL CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND PEOPLE THAT THEY
           LOVE. THE ISSUE OF GUN SAFETY, COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL, ALL OF
           THE PRESS REPORTS ABOUT SHOOTINGS IN SKOOMS AND IN PLACES THAT
           JUST SHOCK -- SCHOOLS AND IN PLACES THAT JUST SHOCK AMERICA
           FROM ONE COAST TO THE OTHER. CAN THIS CONGRESS PASS
           COMMON-SENSE LEGISLATION FOR GUN SAFETY FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK
           AT GUN SHOWS, TO MAKE SURE THAT CRIMINALS AND CHILDREN DON'T
           GET THEIR HANDS ON GUNS?
           CAN WE PASS LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE A CHILD-SAFETY DEVICE ON
           EVERY HANDGUN SO KIDS DON'T RUMME THROUGH THE CLOSET, FIND A
           HANDGUN AND SHOOT THEMSELVES OR A PLAYMATE?

           NO, THE ANSWER IS WE CAN'T. BECAUSE THE POWERFUL GUN LOBBY HAS
           STOPPED THAT LEGISLATION FROM BEING PASSED HERE AS WELL.
           PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS,
           COMMON-SENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, AN INCREASEMENT MINIMUM
           WAGE. SENATOR KENNEDY HAS FOUGHT FOR THIS IN YEARS. $5.15 IS
           THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THIS COUNTRY. IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT TRYING
           TO LIVE ON $5.15 AN HOUR OR $10,000 OR $12,000 A YEAR THAT IT
           GENERATES. IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO RAISE THE

           MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S NOT ONLY FAIR BUT IT GIVES
           PEOPLE WHO GO TO WORK HE HAVE EVERY DAY A CHANCE FOR A LIVABLE
           WAGE. THE REPUBLICANS SAY NO, WE CAN'T AFFORD A LIVABLE WAGE.
           WE CAN'T AFFORD TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE. BUT WE CAN AFFORD
           TO GIVE A $23,000 A YEAR TAX BREAK TO THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
           THIS COUNTRY. DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?
           IS IT FAIR?
           OR IS IT JUST?
           I DON'T THINK SO. ISSUES OF EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE,
           COMPENSATION FOR WORKING PEOPLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS,
           PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, NONE OF THESE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
           THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE OFF TO THEIR CONVENTION IN PHILADELPHIA

           IN JUST A FEW DAYS. THEY'LL TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN TALKING ABOUT
           WHAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED IN WASHINGTON. I HOPE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
           WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIST OF ISSUES WHICH I'VE JUST REFERRED
           TO AND ASK
           
           THEMSELVES: HOW MANY OF THOSE SHALL SHOES ARE IMPORTANT TO
           THEIR FAMILIES?
           I THINK MANY OF THEM ARE. ALL OF THEM ARE STALLED BECAUSE THE
           PEOPLE DON'T RULE IN THIS CHAMBER. THE POWERFUL DO. AND THOSE
           POWERFUL SPECIAL INTERESTS HAVE STOPPED OUR ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO
           MAKE SURE WE HAVE SENSIBLE FISCAL POLICY TO KEEP THIS ECONOMY
           MOVING FORWARD TO PAY DOWN OUR DEBT, STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY

           AND MEDICARE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TAX CUTS REALLY HELP
           THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE THEM. WE HAVE A BIG AGENDA IN THIS TOWN
           AND VERY LITTLE OF IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. AND I THINK IT IS A
           COMMENTARY ON THIS CONGRESS AND ON ITS LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE
           FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUES THAT FAMILIES IN AMERICA REALLY
           CARE ABOUT. AND, MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE YIELDING THE FLOOR TO
           THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
           THIS EDITORIAL FROM ""THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE"" OF SUNDAY, JULY 23,
           YEAR 2000, ENTITLED "BUDGET SURPLUS INDUCES FRENZY" BE ENTERED

           INTO THE RECORD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MY REMARKS.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MR. DURBIN: I YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
           

           MR. KENNEDY: HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE NOW REMAINING?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE TIME IS
           
           UNTIL 10:00.
           

           MR. KENNEDY: ALL RIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT. MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO
           POINT OUT TO OUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS THE CALENDAR OF
           BUSINESS FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THIS IS THE CALENDAR OF
           BUSINESS. IT HAS THE PENDING BUSINESS, THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS
           AND A LIST THAT VARIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION WHICH ARE
           REPORTED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE. AND I WANT TO REMIND THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE IF THEY DON'T PROBABLY HAVE THIS AT THEIR
           FINGERTIPS, BUT IF THEY LOOK AT THIS OR TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT
           A LIBRARY OR WRITE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS, THEY'LL FIND

           OUT IN THE PENDING BUSINESS, THE FIRST ORDER IS A BILL TO
           EXTEND PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES UNDER THE ELEMENTARY AND
           SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965. AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS MAY 1,
           2000. MAY 1, 2000. THAT MEANS THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE UNDERLYING
           AND THE PENDING PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AND YET WE'RE DENIED ANY
           OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE FEDERAL
           PARTICIPATION AND WORKING WITH STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN
           THE AREAS OF EDUCATION. WE DIDN'T ADDRESS IT IN THE REST OF

           MAY. WE RECEIVED ASSURANCES BY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP THAT
           WE WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND
           QUESTIONS. WE DIDN'T DO IT IN JUNE. WE DIDN'T DO IT IN JULY,
           ALTHOUGH WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE IN
           EVENING SESSIONS AND HAVE A DISPOSITION OF THAT LEGISLATION. I
           BELIEVE THAT IN THE MEANTIME WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
           AS MY FRIEND FROM ILLINOIS HAS POINTED OUT, WIFE SEEN A TAX CUT
           OF OVER $1 TRILLION -- WE HAVE SEEN A TAX CUT OF OVER $1

           TRILLION. AND WE HAD SOMETHING ELSE DONE, TOO, MR. PRESIDENT.
           THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS GIVEN THEMSELVES A PAY
           INCREASE OF $3,300 A YEAR. WE DIDN'T SEE THE INCREASE IN THE
           MINIMUM WAGE. THEY DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
           WHEN TOM DELAY WAS ASKED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM
           WAGE, HE SAID, THAT DOESN'T AFFECT US. AND WHAT HE CONTINUED TO
           SAY IS, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS. WE ARE OVERSEARS OF A $2
           TRILLION ECONOMY, AND WAS QUITE DISMISSIVE OF THE PROBLEMS AND
           THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE AFFECTING WORKING FAMILIES AT THE LOWER

           ECONOMIC RUNG -- OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER. SO WE HAVE NOT DONE
           THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S QUESTION. WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE
           QUESTIONS OF SMALLER CLASS SIZES. WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING TO TRY
           AND TRAIN TEACHERS TO BE BETTER TEACHERS. WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING
           THE QUESTIONS OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING
           THE QUESTIONS OF TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. WE'RE
           NOT DEALING WITH GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF THE
           EXPENDITURES OF FUNDS IN TERMS OF EDUCATION. THAT IS OFF THE
           AGENDA, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT MANY TIMES SINCE THE FOUNDING

           OF THE REPUBLIC IN DEBATES HERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED
           STATES. IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES. AND WE EFFECTIVELY, THE MAJORITY
           LEADERS HAVE EFFECTIVELY DISMISSED THE DEBATE, DISCUSSION AND
           ACTION ON EDUCATION IN ORDER TO HAVE $ $1 TRILLION TAX CUT FOR
           THE WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS AND A PAY INCREASE FOR THEMSELVES,
           MR. PRESIDENT. NO ATTENTION TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. THUMBS DOWN
           ON THAT. THUMBS DOWN ON A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS. BUT YET

           THEY HAVE THE TIME -- NO, WE HAVEN'T GOT TIME TO DEBATE A
           PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS. NO, WE HAVEN'T GOT THE TIME TO DEBATE
           A MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM. WE HAVEN'T GOT THE TIME
           TO DEBATE A GUN ISSUE TO TRY AND MAKE OUR SCHOOLS SAFER. BUT
           WE'VE GOT THE TIME TO DEBATE A $1 TRILLION TAX CUT AND A PAY
           INCREASE OF $3,800. IF YOU TAKE THE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM
           WAGE FOR TWO YEARS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE
           INCREASE WOULD BE FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, MR. PRESIDENT. WE
           CAN'T EVEN DEBATE IT. WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT. WE CAN'T VOTE ON IT

           BECAUSE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE AGENDA S IS ABOUT. LICAN THAT'S
           WHAT TH IT IS ABOUT PRIORITIES. THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION WILL
           BE ABOUT ULTIMATELY. NO ACTION ON THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS,
           EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONE VOTE SHORT OF BEING ABLE TO GET ACTION
           TO TRY AND ENSURE DECISIONS THAT WILL EFFECT FAMILIES ARE GOING
           TO BE MADE BY DOCTORS AND TRAINED MEDICAL OFFICIALS AND NOT BY
           ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE H.M.O.'S.
{END: 2000/07/25 TIME: 10-00 , Tue.  106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}