[Kennedy asked about reports that the administration planned deep cuts in Medicaid and Medicare and] whether we're going to be squeezing and denying health benefits. ... It's always been my belief that we can expand the number of people we serve with the available resources.

No one should go without their medication. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, do not leave the pharmacy counter without your prescriptions.

Well, I think the reality is that as you study - when President Kennedy cut marginal tax rates, when Ronald Reagan cut marginal tax rates, when President Bush imposed those tax cuts, they actually generated economic growth. They expanded the economy. They expand tax revenues.

In 2005, Republicans passed a 360-page reconciliation bill without a single Democratic vote that provided deep cuts to Medicaid and raised premiums on Medicare beneficiaries.

because they asked me.

It cuts so wide as to even make confidential housing inspection reports. People should be able to know what housing inspectors were finding out about their buildings. We just didn't prevail on that.