To watch or listen to the Senate floor live please visit CSPAN2

The Focus of Today's Session will be
the Medical Malpractice Bill

5:40 P.M.

Senator Dayton is again speaking on the floor, this time about a more serious matter.  He is discussing the national energy policy, and the high gas prices as they pertain to an amendment that he plans to offer to the JOBS bill to help reduce America's dependency on foreign energy sources. 

4:50 P.M.

Senator Craig of Idaho is currently speaking about the Patriot Act, and the manner in which it was passed.  He is also following up on Senator Durbin's comments about their bill that would clarify some of the authorities granted under the Patriot Act, so that piece meal repeal of part of the Patriot Act would not be necessary.  The bill would also seek to safeguard the liberties of law abiding citizens while allowing law enforcement to continue to work efficiently. Senator Craig said that he sees a need to clarify regarding how warrants and surveillance authority is granted, specifically roving wire taps because the requirements to identify a target are so vague. 

4:10 P.M.

Senator Durbin of Illinois is speaking about the Patriot Act and a bill that he is sponsoring, called the SAFE Act.  Senator Craig and Senator Durbin sponsored this bill that would revises provisions governing search warrants authorized under the USA PATRIOT ACT. 

3:50 P.M.

Not to be outdone, Senator Mark Dayton came to the floor to commend the Minnesota women's hockey team for their national championship victory.  He also praised the success of the Minnesota women's basketball team in the NCAA tournament. 

3:40 P.M.

Senator Dodd is explaining the wager that was offered by Senator Frist prior to the women's national championship basketball game last night.  Senator Frist offered some of Tennessee's finest barbecued ribs if the Uconn Huskies were victorious, while Senator Dodd offered a supply of Connecticut river shad.  Senator Dodd remarked that his offering was much more nutritious than the ribs offered by Senator Frist.  

3:25 P.M.

Senator Dodd of Connecticut is speaking on the Senate floor speaking about the University of Connecticut, and the success of the school's basketball teams.  He has pointed out that never in one year have the men's and women's basketball teams won the NCAA Championships until this year when the University of Connecticut did so. 

3:15 P.M.

The Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to recommit S.1637 to the Finance Committee with a vote of 49 yeas and 48 nays.  Senator Frist is now speaking about the schedule for the afternoon.  As the Majority leader, Senator First is responsible for scheduling votes and determining what bills the Senate will consider. 

2:45 P.M.

By a vote of 49-48, the Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the consideration of S.2207.  The Senate is now voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to recommit S.1637, the FSC/ETI or JOBS bill to the Senate Finance Committee.  Sixty votes are needed to invoke cloture, which would end debate. 

2:35 P.M.

The Senate is about to conclude a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the consideration of S.2207, the Medical Malpractice Bill.  The vote should end shortly. 

12:55 P.M.

Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war, is countering claims that the war in Iraq is similar to the Vietnam War, saying that the realities on the ground have no comparison between the two wars. He is claiming that those who compare the Iraq war to the Vietnam War are "uninformed," and he finds the comparisons "a tad offensive."

12:45 P.M.

Speaking in response to Senator Byrd's remarks, Senator Kit Bond is defending the Administration's decision to go to war and is saying that he hopes that we "stay the course" in Iraq.

12:40 P.M.

Continuing his discussion of war on Iraq, Senator Byrd is expressing his frustration that President Bush has "alienated friend and foe alike" in his handling of the war. Senator Byrd is calling for a change of approach and the need to have a realistic exit plan. "It is staggeringly clear that the Administration did not understand the consequences of invading Iraq a year ago," and they still do not know fully understand the effects, said the Senator.

12:20 P.M.

Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia is expressing that he has a "heavy heart and mounting dread" concerning the course that the war in Iraq has taken in the past few days. He is discussing the "mere youngsters who have been called into battle by their commander in chief," and is reminding us that it was dubious intelligence that the President used to decide to go to war. "It is time to admit that the Administration blundered," Senator Byrd proclaimed.

12:10 P.M.

Senator John Warner of Virginia is reading a few letters he has received from his constituents about how the high costs of medial liability insurance is hurting their practice as doctors.

12:00 P.M.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas is addressing the need for a medical malpractice bill, and has provided a few examples where caps have worked to decrease the amount of malpractice premiums, and has provided for a better environment for medical care.

11:45 A.M.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is discussing the Medical Liability bill, and its drawbacks. He argues that the caps do not directly correlate with a reduction in malpractice premiums, in fact the opposite is true for many states. In several cases, states without caps actually have much lower insurance premiums that those neighboring states with caps. He also argues that there are many cases in which a maximum restitution of $250,000 is simply unfair and unjust. He brought up several cases in which the medical expenses resulting from the malpractice alone would far exceed the minimum amount of restitution allowed for in this bill. He agrees that a bill needs to be introduced that addresses the rising costs of malpractice insurance, however this bill needs to be fair to those suffering unduly because of medical negligence, it need to address tort and insurance reform, and also needs to address the rising number of mistakes that are occurring in the medical field.

11:25 A.M.

Senator John Ensign of Nevada is arguing that it is unfortunate that the democratic side of the aisle won’t allow for an up or down vote as to whether or not the Senate should end debate and move to a vote. He argues that they need 60 votes anyway, which is a difficult enough task by itself. He is arguing that it is too easy to sue, because the threat of a lawsuit and the cost is so exorbitant that insurance companies settle before a case can even make it to court. The “little guy” is still being protected with this legislation, it simply prevents unreasonable lawsuits.

11:15 A.M.

Morning business has just concluded, Senator Judd Gregg is now discussing the Medical Liability bill. He is in favor of the passage of this bill, and is extolling its provisions. Harry Reid of Nevada just objected to a motion from Senator Gregg to end debate and move immediately to a vote on the bill.

11:10 A.M.

Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia is reiterating the positive aspects of the war with Iraq, and the productive outcomes that have occurred as a result of our invasion.

11:00 A.M.

Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota is concurring with Senator Hutchison, and wonders why “we” have to be pessimistic and dark about our thoughts of the future of Iraq, when it would be much more productive and inspiring to be positive and optimistic. He also argues that it is better to have prevented the slaughter of what would have been thousands of people, than to sit by and watch while thousands were killed, such as we did ten years ago.

10:45 A.M.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is now discussing the state of Iraq, and pointed out that the one year anniversary of Iraq’s liberation is a few days away. She is arguing that it is not productive to judge the state of Iraq while we are still in the midst of rebuilding the country. We should have confidence in our troops, and be united in our stand against terrorism and despotism.

10:20 A.M.

Senator Jon Corzine of New Jersey discussed the amount of unemployment and the condition in which the middle and moderate classes find themselves in today. He argued that, since the Bush administration has taken office, unemployment has increased to a staggering 8 and ½ million people without jobs, and those new jobs that are being created provide a lower earning capacity than the ones before them. Income today is not keeping up with medical costs, and tuition costs are steadily increasing as well.

9:45 A.M.

The Senate convenes today at 9:45 this morning for a period of morning business. At 10:45, the Senate will resume consideration of S.2207, the Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection bill, better known as the Medical Malpractice bill. When the Senate resumes at 2:15 after the weekly policy lunches, there will be a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.2207.