"The only possible role that I can see for reconciliation would be to make modest changes in the major package to improve affordability, to deal with what share of Medicaid expansion the federal government pays, those kinds of issues, which is the traditional role for reconciliation in health care."
About Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad — Life and Legacy
Kent Conrad served as a U.S. Senator from North Dakota for over two decades, where he became a prominent voice on fiscal policy and governance. His work on the Senate Budget Committee allowed him to shape significant legislation aimed at addressing the nation's financial challenges. Conrad's quotes often reflect his belief that responsible governance requires a balance between fiscal discipline and the needs of the public. For instance, he has articulated that "we must be willing to make tough choices to ensure our future prosperity," showcasing his pragmatic approach to leadership. Throughout his career, Conrad has challenged the status quo by advocating for bipartisan solutions to complex issues, emphasizing that collaboration is essential for effective governance. His insights reveal a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between economic policy and social responsibility. By stating that "leadership is about making decisions that benefit the many, not just the few," he underscores the ethical dimensions of political decision-making. Today, Kent Conrad's perspectives remain relevant as they encourage a thoughtful dialogue about fiscal responsibility and public service, inspiring current and future leaders to prioritize the common good in their governance.
Quote collection
Kent Conrad quotes
19 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Access to computers and the Internet has become a basic need for education in our society."
"It is vital that we provide North Dakota's children with nutritionally sound diets. That means ensuring that they are getting plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and are developing good eating habits for their future."
"We shouldn't just live for today; we should prepare for tomorrow."
"We've got to have major health care reform because that is the 800-pound gorilla. That is the thing that can swamp the boat fiscally for the United States."
"I've had lengthy discussions with European farm leaders. It is clear they have an agricultural strategy to support their producers and gain dominance in world agricultural trade. They're gaining markets the old-fashioned way - they're buying them."
"Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It won't work because it was never designed for that kind of significant legislation; it was designed for deficit reduction."
"The President is not squaring with the American people as to the seriousness of our nation's fiscal condition. It is time for people to stand up and tell the truth."
"Anybody who has stood on the prairie in North Dakota has felt the force of the wind and knows that our state has an inexhaustible supply of wind power. The potential here to create jobs and draw millions of dollars in new investment to North Dakota is enormous."
"When Republicans used reconciliation in 2001 for the Bush tax cuts, they used it to increase the deficit. The whole purpose of reconciliation is for deficit reduction!"
"The reality is no one knows how much it will cost us to wage war with Iraq."
"So I put that all together and I find it makes it hard to justify a filibuster."
"Certainly Social Security needs to be reformed."
"Governments can inflate their way out of debt, but that has consequences, doesn't it?"
"Highway spending, which I think most everybody says is badly needed in this country, creates American jobs, and also makes America more competitive."
"I would do away with super PACs. I think it's a cancer."
"America was founded on majority rule, not supermajority rule. Somehow, over the years, this has morphed into supermajority rule, and that changes things."
"Negotiating sugar trade in bilateral free trade agreements is a recipe for disaster for the U.S. sugar industry, and it is unnecessary."
"Reducing our dependence on foreign energy - that is critically important to America's economic future. Excellence in education - if we're not the best educated, we're not going to be the most powerful for very long."