Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Aaron Richardson - Talk Radio News Service

On Thursday, Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV), Dick Durban (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) said the Senate will be taking up a lot more than just health care in the coming weeks.

Though health care remains a top issue, the Senate is diligently working on the homeland security appropriation bill, the defense authorization bill and the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor. According to Senators Reid and Durbin, these secondary issues are just as important.

“The reason that we’re focusing initially on the homeland security appropriations bill and the defense authorization bill is that we’re concerned about keeping our country safe,” said Reid.

“We have had the chance now (some of us) to consider two or three nominees. I am excited about this opportunity to fill this vacancy early on so that judge Sotomayor, if she’s fortunute enough to be the next justice, and I believe she will be, will be placed on the court in time to consider the September calender,” said Durbin.

Senator Schumer spoke about meetings the finance committee has been holding with regards to passing health care reform.

“We’re going to have to figure out how to pay for health care, and the President insists and both parties insist that it be paid for. We’re going to have to do the majority of it by cost cutting. And we have pretty much agreed on most of the cost cutting part, which is the majority of how to pay for it. But we also need to figure out some revenues.”