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CLERK WILL CALL THE
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING
TO CATCH CNBC, A PROGRAM
INVOLVING -- THAT HAD MR. JACK
WELCH, FORMER C.E.O. OF G.E.,
ON, AND I THOUGHT HE MADE A
NUMBER OF VALUABLE POINTS.
HE IS A VERY, VERY -- HE'S VERY,
VERY WORRIED ABOUT OUR ECONOMY.
HE BELIEVES THAT WE ARE FACING
SERIOUS TROUBLES AND WE NEED TO
TAKE ACTION TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
BUT AS A CORPORATE LEADER OF
GREAT RENOWN, ONE OF THE MORE
RESPECTED CORPORATE LEADERS, I
GUESS, IN AMERICA AT THIS TIME,
AND HE EVIDENCED A REAL
FRUSTRATION AT THE LACK OF
LEADERSHIP THIS ADMINISTRATION
IS SHOWING WITH REGARD TO OUR
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
AND HE SAID A NUMBER OF THINGS.
ONE OF THEM WAS CLASSIC
LEADERSHIP, CLASSIC THOUGHT BY A
MANAGER, A MAN WHO'S MANAGED A
VERY LARGE CORPORATION WORLDWIDE
WITH MANY, MANY, MANY MOVING
PARTS, AND HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A STRATEGY.
AND WE HAVE NO STRATEGY.
AND I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S -- I DON'T BELIEVE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SENSE THAT THIS
COUNTRY IS ABLE TO ARTICULATE A
SERIOUS STRATEGY TO CONFRONT THE
DIFFICULTIES WITH WHICH WE ARE
DEALING NOW.
AND HE SAID, YOU SHOULD
BASICALLY -- AND IT'S, I GUESS,
C.E.O. LANGUAGE, GOOD MANAGER
LANGUAGE -- HE SAID THAT
EVERYTHING NEEDS TO GO THROUGH A
SCREEN, AND IN HIS OPINION THE
SCREEN SHOULD BE WHAT OUR
STRATEGY IS, AND OUR STRATEGY
SHOULD BE IN GENERAL, AS I
RECALL HIS WORDS, TO CREATE AN
ECONOMY THAT'S PRODUCTIVE,
INNOVATIVE, AND GROWING --
CREATING JOBS, CREATING WEALTH,
CREATING PROSPERITY.
AND EVERYTHING OUGHT FOR JUDGED
BY THAT.
ONE OF THE POINTS HE MENTIONED
AMERICA.
WAS DRILLING FOR OIL AND GAS IN
SO WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OUT HERE,
ALL KINDS OF REGULATIONS IN A
PERMATORIUM, BLOCKING OF THE
GIVING OF PERMITS, THAT IS
SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED -- THAT
HAS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED THE
ABILITY OF THIS NATION TO
PRODUCE OIL AND GAS AT HOME, A
CRITICAL FACTOR IF WE'RE GOING
TO BE COMPETITIVE AND
ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS.
WE NEED TO QUIT BUYING SO MUCH
ABROAD, SENDING THAT WEALTH
ABROAD, AND KEEP IT HOME.
SO HE JUST THREW THAT OUT AS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD NEVER
GET THROUGH A STREAM, WOULD IT?
BECAUSE INSTEAD OF HELPING THIS
COUNTRY BE MORE PROSPEROUS,
CREATE JOBS, GROWTH, IT DOES
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
YET IN THE MIDST OF THIS MASSIVE
GOVERNMENTENT ENTITY THAT WE
HAVE, WE'VE THESE CONTRADICTORY
ACTIONS GOING ON, AND AS A
RESULT WE'RE MUDDLING ALONG AT A
VERY UNHEALTHY RATE.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT IT.
LAST WEEK COMPLETED THE SIXTH
CONSECUTIVE WEEK THAT THE STOCK
MARKET FELL.
OH, WE WERE TOLD, YOU KNOW, IN
JANUARY WHEN THINGS WERE MAKING
SOME PROGRESS THAT EVERYTHING
WAS JUST DOING GREAT.
WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF JOBS.
WE'RE CREATING JOBS AND THE
MARKET WAS GOING ALONG BETTER.
BUT IT'S NOT MOVING VERY WELL,
AND IF YOU READ THE FINANCIAL
PAGES, THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND
THEIR LIFE DEALING WITH THE
ECONOMY AND THE THREATS THAT WE
FACE ARE UNEASY ABOUT OUR
FUTURE.
JUST READ THOSE ARTICLES.
THE ROUND TABLE OF WORLDWIDE
ECONOMIC EXPERTS IN BARRON'S
OVER THE WEEKEND JUST CAME OUT.
IT WAS VERY TROUBLING TO ME.
MANY OF THEM HAVE VERY SERIOUS
CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WOULD WE HAVE A DOUBLE DIP?
SOME SEEM TO SAY "YES."
AND THE PRESIDENT -- THE
PRESIDING OFFICER ON THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, SENATOR ***, KNOWS
THE NUMBERS WE'RE DEALING WITH
AND THE TESTIMONY WE'VE HAD THAT
INDICATES THAT MR. BOWLES,
FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO
PRESIDENT CLINTON, AND ALAN
SIMPSON IN THEIR FISCAL
COMMISSION REPORT SAID THAT WE
ARE FACING THE MOST PREDICTABLE
CRISIS IN OUR HISTORY AND THAT
IT COULD CAUSE AN ECONOMIC --
ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES FOR US
SOON.
MR. BOWLES SAID TWO YEARS, GIVE
OR TAKE.
NOT OUR GRANDCHILDREN, BUT SOON.
THIS IS WHY THE EXPERTS ARE --
SO WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE IN THE
WHITE HOUSE ANY CALL TO THE KIND
OF ACTION NECESSARY TO ALTER THE
DEBT TRAJECTORY WE ARE ON, WHICH
IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND, BUT
THEY UNDERSTAND ENOUGH TO PUNISH
ELECTION.
THE CONGRESS IN THIS LAST
I'M AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO
PUNISH US AGAIN BECAUSE NO
CONGRESS CAN DEFEND ITSELF FROM
THE CRITICISM THAT YOU HAVE
PROVIDED MEMBERS OF -- PRESIDED
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OVER A
GOVERNMENT THAT IS BORROWING 40
CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND,
THAT SPENDS $3,700,000,000,000
$2,200,000,000,000.
AND TAKES IN ONLY
AND WE JUST BORROW THE REST.
AND WE'RE ON A PATH THAT DOESN'T
ALTER THAT.
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, THE MOST
IRRESPONSIBLE EVER SUBMITTED,
MADE OUR DEBT PATH WORSE RATHER
THAN BETTER.
SO I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT.
SO THE MAJORITY LEADER ANNOUNCES
THAT, WELL, IT WOULD BE FOOLISH
TO HAVE A BUDGET.
SENATOR REID SAID IT WOULD BE
FOOLISH TO HAVE A BUDGET.
AT A TIME WHEN WE'VE NEVER HAD A
GREATER FISCAL THREAT TO THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM
THAN WE HAVE TODAY?
LET ME REPEAT THAT.
WE ARE NEVER -- WE HAVE NEVER
BEEN IN A POSITION IN WHICH THE
ECONOMY COULD DO AS MUCH HARM TO
OUR NATION AS IT CAN TODAY.
WE'RE HEADING TO THE WALL AT
WARP SPEED.
IT IS A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND WE CAN GET OFF THIS PATH.
AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOME THINGS
THAT ARE NOT VERY PLEASANT BUT
NOT IMPOSSIBLE THAT ARE BEING
DONE BY MAYORS AND COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AND GOVERNORS ALL
OVER AMERICA, AND COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD.
THE BRITISH MADE SOME VERY
SUBSTANTIAL CUTS, FAR MORE THAN
WE'VE EVER -- WE'RE DISCUSSING
IN THEIR OVERALL SPENDING
PRAMENT.
AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUSHED
BACK.
MUCH.
THEY SAY YOU'RE CUTTING TOO
YOU
KNOW THAT DEBATE WILL HAPPEN
HERE IN WE CUT SPENDING HERE.
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,
NO BASTION OF CONSERVATIVE OR
ECONOMIC THOUGHT, SAY NO, U.K.,
NO BRITS.
STAY THE COURSE.
DON'T WEAKEN NOW.
YOU SET A GOOD, TOUGH PATH FOR
CONTAINING SPENDING AND REDUCING
SPENDING, AND YOU'VE GOT PLANS
THAT IF YOU STAY THE COURSE WILL
BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN GIVING
THEM UP.
AND QUITTING ON SOME PRESSURE
THAT YOU MIGHT BE UNDER TODAY.
SO HOW DO YOU GET THERE?
HOW DO WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE
WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES?
HARVARD ECONOMIST ALBERTO
ALASINA DRAWING FROM HIS AND
OTHER RESEARCH ON LARGE FISCAL
ADJUSTMENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE
NATIONS, SAID THIS -- QUOTE --
"SPENDING CUTS ARE FAR MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN TAX INCREASES IN
STABILIZING THE DEBT AND
AVOIDING ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.
IN FACT, IN SEVERAL EPISODES,
SPENDING CUTS ADOPTED TO REDUCE
DEFICITS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED
WITH GOVERNMENT EXPANSIONS
RATHER THAN RECESSIONS."
CLOSE QUOTE.
GOLDMAN SACHS HAS ALSO DONE A
STUDY THAT INDICATES THAT.
AND WE HAVE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN
FIRM STEPS TO GET THEIR
FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER, HAVE
FOUND THAT MAYBE ALMOST TO THEIR
SURPRISE, THEY HAVE HAD ECONOMIC
GROWTH QUICKER THAN MANY HAVE
REJECTED.
THE -- SO WHERE ARE WE TODAY?
APPARENTLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO
HAVE ANY KIND OF REGULAR BUDGET
PROCESS IN THE SENATE, TO MY
GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET
I BELIEVE SENATOR CONRAD, THE
COMMITTEE -- I'M THE RANKING
REPUBLICAN ON THAT COMMITTEE --
WAS PREPARED TO HAVE HEARINGS,
BUT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
HAS DECIDED NOT TO.
DEMOCRATS CAN'T CALL ON A BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING.
ONLY THE CHAIRMAN AND THE
LEADERSHIP CAN DO THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS.
THEY DECIDED NOT TO.
UNDER THE BUDGET ACT, WE SHOULD
HAVE HEARINGS BY APRIL 1 OF THIS
YEAR, AND THE LAW THAT WE HAVE
MANDATES THE PASSAGE AND
MOVEMENT OF A BUDGET IN
CONGRESS, SAYS IT SHOULD BE
PASSED BY APRIL 15.
WE'RE NOT -- NOW GETTING CLOSE
TO JULY 4, AND WE'VE HAD NO REAL
PUBLIC DISCUSSION, NO NATIONAL
DEBATE AS PART OF A MARKING UP
OF A BUDGET ABOUT THE CHALLENGES
THIS NATION FACES.
WE HAD, WELL, FIRST WE HAD THE
GANG OF SIX.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN MEETING IN
SECRET, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IS
ADVISING THEM.
I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THEIR
STRUGGLING WHO MAYBE HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS OR HAVEN'T SEEN THEIR
PAY INCREASED OR SEEN THEIR
OVERTIME ELIMINATED, MANY OF
THOSE PEOPLE WERE IN THE ROOM.
BUT THEY ARE WORKING, THEY ARE
GOOD PEOPLE.
I HAVE BEEN ANXIOUS FOR A MONTH
OR SO TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM
THEM.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD DEAL.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO
GET US MOVING.
I DON'T KNOW.
I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT IT AND
EXPRESSED THAT, BUT I EXPRESSED
MY SUPPORT TO SEE WHAT THEY
COULD PRODUCE.
MAYBE IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.
I'M WITHHOLDING JUDGMENT.
SO NOW WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM
THEM, ALTHOUGH THEY APPARENTLY
HAVE ENOUGH WORK PRODUCT, MAYBE
EVEN A PLAN THAT THEY MET WITH
TEN OTHER SENATORS, I UNDERSTAND
TO, DISCUSS WHAT THEY'RE
PLANNING ON AND LET ANYBODY ELSE
IN ON THE DEAL.
BUT NOW WE SAY DON'T WORRY ABOUT
THE GANG OF SIX.
IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, WE'VE GOT
THE VICE PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ASKED HIM TO
HAVE MEETINGS WITH A VERY SMALL
GROUP OF SENATE AND HOUSE
LEADERS.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO WRITE US A
BUDGET.
AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD PEOPLE
MEETING IN THAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WEEKS HAVE GONE BY.
WE HAD A WEEK RECESS, AND
APPARENTLY IT WAS OVER TWO WEEKS
AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN MEET.
THE PRESIDENT IS TRAVELING
AROUND THE WORLD MAKING
SPEECHES, RAISING MONEY.
AND THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT HAD A
BUDGET IN 775 DAYS.
THIS SENATE HAS NOT PASSED A
BUDGET IN 775 DAYS.
AND THE BUDGET ACT REQUIRES US
TO PASS A BUDGET.
IT CAN'T BE FILIBUSTERED.
IT CAN BE PASSED WITH A SIMPLE
MAJORITY.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE A PARTISAN
EFFORT -- SOMETIMES THEY ARE,
JUST PURELY A PARTISAN VOTE --
THERE ARE 53 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS
HERE WHO OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO
PASS A BUDGET.
WE HAVE PASSED BUDGETS WHEN
MAJORITY.
REPUBLICANS HAD A ONE-VOTE
SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET A
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON A
BUDGET.
THAT'S THE BEST THING.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST DONE WITH A
SIMPLE MAJORITY.
SO WE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO DO
THAT.
BUT, OH, NO.
SO NOW WEEKS ARE GOING BY, AND
WE'RE WAITING ON MEETINGS IN THE
WHITE HOUSE.
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S PARTICULARLY
HAPPENING THERE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SECRET.
NORMALLY A BUDGET IS BROUGHT UP.
IT'S BROUGHT BEFORE THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
THE CHAIRMAN LAYS DOWN THE
CHAIRMAN POSTS MARK --
CHAIRMAN'S MARK.
EVERYBODY GETS TO OFFER COMPLETE
SUBSTITUTES, GETS TO OFFER THEIR
WHOLE BUDGET OR TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS OR SIGNIFICANT
AMENDMENTS TO THAT BUDGET, AND
THEY GET VOTED ON.
AND THE MATTER IS DISCUSSED.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN GET
A COPY OF THE CHAIRMAN'S MARK
AND THE AMENDMENTS OFFERED BY
COMMITTEE.
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
AND THIS IS HOW YOU DO BUSINESS
IN A DEMOCRACY, LAST I HEARD.
AND THEN WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE;
RIGHT?
HOW MUCH DID YOU THINK WE OUGHT
PEOPLE?
TO RAISE TAXES ON THE 0 AMERICAN
HOW MUCH DID YOU THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO CUT SPENDING?
WERE YOU GOING TO DARE TO MAKE
ANY CHANGE IN MEDICARE?
I'LL NOT VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU
MAKE ANY CHANGE IN MEDICARE.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THESE ENTITLEMENTS.
YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE
MEDICARE ENTITLEMENTS?
BROKE.
YOU'RE GOING TO LET THEM GO
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF GOOD
DISCUSSIONS YOU WOULD BE HAVING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE COULD SEE
IT, AND THEN IT COMES TO THE
FLOOR OF THE SENATE, AND
LIKEWISE IT HAS AN EXPEDITED
PROCESS BUT A REAL OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE AMENDMENTS, EVEN
HUNDREDS OF AMENDMENTS TO OFFER
TO THE BUDGET ACT.
AND YOU THEN HAVE SOMETHING AT
LEAST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL
KNOW WHAT'S IN IT.
AT LEAST THEY'LL KNOW WHAT THEIR
AGAINST.
REPRESENTATIVES VOTED FOR OR
BUT I THINK THIS IDEA OF DOING
IT IN SOME OTHER ORDER, NOT THE
REGULAR ORDER, IS AN UNHEALTHY
PROCESS, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN
DO BETTER.
SO I WOULD JUST CONCLUDE,
MR. PRESIDENT, BY SAYING IT'S
775 DAYS.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE FULFILLED
OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT FULFILLED
OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY
UNDER THE BUDGET ACT WHICH SAYS
WE SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET BY APRIL
15.
IT ALSO SAYS WE SHOULD HAVE
COMMENCED HEARINGS APRIL 1.
WELL, IT'S TOUGH BUSINESS, YOU
KNOW, STANDING BEFORE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY, IN
THIS CRISIS WE'RE IN, PROPOSING
THE KIND OF SEVERE ACTIONS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO PUT
OUR COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT PATH.
NOT THE PATH TO DECLINE, NOT THE
PATH TO DEBT CRISIS, BUT THE
PATH TO PROSPERITY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME EFFORTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE PAINFUL IN SOME
WAYS.
WE'RE NOT MOVING IN THAT
DIRECTION AT ALL.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES?
THEY PASSED A BUDGET.
THEY PASSED A BOLD BUDGET, A
BUDGET THAT GOES TEN YEARS AND
THEN EVEN FURTHER.
AND IT LAID OUT A PLAN THAT WAS
HISTORIC.
IT CONFRONTED THE GROWTH IN
ENTITLEMENTS WHICH ARE
THREATENING THE VIABILITY OF
THOSE PROGRAMS.
IT DEALT WITH ECONOMIC GROWTH.
IT DEALT WITH REDUCING SPENDING
WHICH HAS SURGED IN THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
INDEED, IN THE LAST TWO CYCLES
WE'VE INCREASED NON-DEFENSE
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING 25%.
PEOPLE ACT LIKE YOU CAN'T -- IF
YOU CUT SPENDING WE'RE GOING TO
SINK INTO THE OCEAN.
WELL, THAT COULD BE ELIMINATED
AND WE WOULD BE NO WORSE OFF
AGO.
THAN WE WERE JUST THREE YEARS
SO THE HOUSE DID THEIR DUTY, AND
WHAT HAPPENED?
A DEMOCRATIC LEADER OVER HERE,
INSTEAD OF PRODUCING HIS BUDGET,
HE CALLS UP THE HOUSE BUDGET AND
TOEPTS TALK ABOUT HOW
HORRIBLE -- HE WANTS TO TALK
ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE IT IS AND
VOTED ON IT.
IT GOT QUITE A NUMBER OF VOTES
FOR IT IN THE SENATE, CERTAINLY
NOT ENOUGH TO PASS, BUT IT GOT A
LOT OF VOTES.
SO I OFFERED THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET, THE ONE HE SUBMITTED A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT I CALL
THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE BUDGET
EVER TO BE PRESENTED TO THIS
NATION.
AND I STAND BY THAT.
WE ARE IN A SYSTEMIC CRISIS.
IT'S GOT TO BE CONFRONTED WITH
SERIOUS DECISION-MAKING, AND
THAT BUDGET CAME NOWHERE CLOSE
TO IT.
SO I OFFERED THAT.
IT FAILED 97-0.
NOT ONE MEMBER OF THIS SENATE,
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, VOTED
FOR THAT BUDGET.
SO I JUST THINK THIS IS
IRRESPONSIBLE.
775 DAYS GONE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A
BUDGET LAST YEAR.
WE DIDN'T PASS A SINGLE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL LAST YEAR.
EVERYTHING WAS COBBLED TOGETHER
IN THIS MONUMENTAL C.R. THAT YOU
HEARD ABOUT, CONTINUING
RESOLUTION.
TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE AS A METHOD
TO GOVERN IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO
SPEND MONEY.
CONGRESS OUGHT TO DO ITS 13
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS PROMPTLY
EVERY YEAR.
FIRST THEY SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET
THAT TELLS ALL THE COMMITTEES
HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'VE GOT TO
SPEND.
THEN THEY SHOULD PASS THEIR 13
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
EACH ONE SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP
SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT AND BE
VOTED ON.
SO WE'VE BEEN IN THIS VERY
IRRESPONSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCE.
MY REQUEST IS TO OUR COLLEAGUES
THAT ARE WORKING EITHER IN THE
WHITE HOUSE WITH THE VICE
PRESIDENT AND WHATEVER THEY'RE
DOING OVER THERE, THE GANG OF
SIX OR FIVE OR WHATEVER,
WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
HOW ABOUT GETTING BUSY?
HOW ABOUT LET'S SEEING SOME
NUMBERS SO WE CAN GO TO WORK.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
WELL RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE TO HAVE PLOPPED DOWN IN
OUR LAP ON THE EVE OF SOME
IMPORTANT MATTER SUCH AS THE
DEBT CEILING A BUDGET PROPOSAL
THAT NOBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO
STUDY, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN IT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS WE LEARNED IN THE LAST
ELECTION.
I THOUGHT WE LEARNED THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT
TRANSPARENCY.
THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES ARE DOING.
AND THEY WANT TO SEE THEM IN THE
LIGHT OF DAY, NOT THE DARK OF
NIGHT, DOING THEIR WORK.
I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.
THAT'S THE WAY OUR CONGRESS WAS
SET UP TO WORK.
THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THESE
MEETINGS TO START GETTING OVER
WITH.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO
START SEEING SOME NUMBERS.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?
WAIT FOR THE LAST POSSIBLE DAY
TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING AND
THEN WALTZ IN HERE WITH SOME
SORT OF AGREEMENT AND WE'RE ALL
SUPPOSED TO RUBBER STAMP IN A
STATE OF PANIC?
PRO APPRECIATE THAT.
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WILL -- I DON'T
APPRECIATE THAT.
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WILL.
IT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNMENT.
IF THEY'VE GOT A PLAN, LET'S SEE
WHAT IT IS.
LET'S START HAVING SOME PUBLIC
DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON IT.
I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO
GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS.
I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'VE
GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE REGULAR
ORDER.
I BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM
THE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR AUGUST
RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS A BUDGET,
TO DECIDE OPENLY AND PUBLICLY
HOW MUCH WE THINK WE CAN SPEND,
HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO TAX, HOW
MUCH DEBT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
OPENLY.
WE OUGHT TO DO THAT PUBLICLY AND
AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE
HEALTHY FOR OUR REPUBLIC AND
HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DEEP A HOLE
WE ARE IN.
IT'S FAR DEEPER THAN MOST OF US
REALIZE.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS.
THEY ARE VERY GRIM INDEED, AND
RATHER THAN LATER.
WE NEED TO GET STARTED SOONER
I THANK THE PRESIDENT AND WOULD
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM MAINE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE CALL BE
DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M PLEASED TO
JOIN WITH SENATORS COBURN AND
FEINSTEIN IN OFFERING AN
AMENDMENT TO REPEAL THE ETHANOL
EXCISE TAX CREDIT AND THE
ETHANOL IMPORT TARIFF.
THESE POLICIES ARE FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY
UNWISE AND ECONOMICALLY
INDEFENSIBLE.
HISTORICALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR
GOVERNMENT HAS HELPED A PRODUCT
COMPETE IN ONE OF THREE WAYS.
EITHER WE SUBSIDIZE IT, WE
PROTECT IT FROM COMPETITION OR
WE REQUIRE ITS USE.
RIGHT NOW, ETHANOL MAY BE THE
ONLY PRODUCT RECEIVING ALL THREE
FORMS OF SUPPORT.
THE ETHANOL TAX BREAK IS
EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
OFFICE HAS FOUND THAT THE TAX
CREDIT COSTS AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
A STAGGERING $6 BILLION
ANNUALLY.
THIS IS QUITE A SUM TO PROP UP A
FUEL THAT IS CAUSING LAND
CONVERSION FOR CORN PRODUCTION,
COMMODITY AND FOOD PRICES TO
RISE AND IS BARELY PUTTING A
DENT INTO OUR NATION'S DEFENDENS
ON FOREIGN OIL.
WITH OUR AMENDMENT WHICH HAS AN
EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1, WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
IMMEDIATELY SAVE AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS NEARLY $3 BILLION IN
JUST THE SIX MONTHS REMAINING IN
THIS FISCAL YEAR.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE 2007 ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT
REQUIRES THE PRODUCTION OF AT
LEAST $36 BILLION OF BIOFUELS IN
2022, UP FROM THE ORIGINAL 2005
ENERGY POLICY ACT WHICH REQUIRED
REQUIRED 7.5 BILLION GALLONS BY
2012.
COLLECTIVELY, THE FIRST
GENERATION BIOFUELS INDUSTRY
WILL RECEIVE TENS OF BILLIONS IN
UNNECESSARY SUBSIDIES THROUGH
THE YEAR 2022.
IF THE CURRENT SUBSIDY WERE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FOR FIVE
YEARS, THE FEDERAL TREASURY
WOULD PAY OIL COMPANIES AT LEAST
LEAST $31 BILLION TO USE
69 BILLION GALLONS OF CORN-BASED
ETHANOL THAT THE FEDERAL
RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD ALREADY
REQUIRES THEM TO USE.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY
THE OIL INDUSTRY FOR TECHNOLOGY
THE LAW.
THE DATA OVERWHELMINGLY
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE COSTS OF
THE CURRENT ETHANOL SUBSIDIES
AND TARIFFS FAR OUTWEIGH THEIR
BENEFITS.
THE CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT AT IOWA STATE
UNIVERSITY ESTIMATED THAT A
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE
ETHANOL SUBSIDY AND TARIFF WOULD
LEAD TO ONLY 427 ADDITIONAL
DIRECT DOMESTIC JOBS AT A COST
OF ALMOST $6 BILLION.
THAT'S ROUGHLY $14 MILLION OF
TAXPAYER MONEY PER JOB.
WHILE EXPANDING OUR COMPOSITE TO
GENERATE ALTERNATIVE DOMESTIC
FUEL SOURCES IS AN IMPORTANT
STEP TOWARD BECOMING LESS
DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN OIL, I HAVE
SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE
EFFECTS OF INCREASED ETHANOL
USE.
THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVE
SOURCES OF ENERGY THAT MAKE FAR
MORE SENSE.
THE ENERGY, AGRICULTURAL AND
AUTOMOTIVE SECTORS ARE ALREADY
STRUG TECHNOLOGY ADAPT TO THE
EXISTING ETHANOL MANDATES.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
HAS ISSUED A PARTIAL WAIVER FOR
THE USE OF E-15, A BLEND OF
GASOLINE CONTAINING 15% ETHANOL.
MANY RESIDENTS IN MY STATE HAVE
ALREADY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES
USING GASOLINE BLENDED WITH 10%
ETHANOL, FINDING THAT IT CAUSES
PROBLEMS IN OLDER CARS,
SNOWMOBILES, BOATS, LAWNMOWERS
AND OFF THE ROAD VEHICLES.
THE E.P.A.'S E-15 WAIVER FAILS
TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT AGAINST
MISFUELING AND WILL ADD
UNNECESSARY CONFUSION AT THE GAS
PUMP FOR CONSUMERS.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT PLACE SO MANY
ENGINES IN JEOPARDY.
THESE FIRST GENERATION BIOFUEL
MANDATES ALSO PRESENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, AS THEY
COULD RESULT IN ENERGY
EFFICIENCY LOSSES AND INCREASED
EMISSIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS
BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL FAILURES
CAN JEOPARDIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF A MISSION CONTROL DEVICES AND
SYSTEMS INSTALLED ON ENGINES.
IN ADDITION, MR. CHAIRMAN --
MR. PRESIDENT, OVER RECENT
YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN FOOD AND
FEED PRICES INCREASE AS CROPS
TO FIRST
GENERATION BIOFUEL PRODUCTION.
I THINK OF IT THIS WAY.
WE SHOULD BE RAISING CROPS FOR
FOOD, NOT FOR FUEL.
SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JOE LIEBERMAN
AND I HELD A SERIES OF HEARINGS
IN 2008 THAT EXAMINED THE IMPACT
OF CORN-BASED ETHANOL ON FOOD
PRICES, AND WE FOUND THAT IT
CERTAINLY HAD HAD A NEGATIVE
IMPACT.
FOR ONE THING, CROPS THAT HAD
BEEN GROWN TO SUPPORT OTHER
GRAINS WERE BEING DIVERTED TO
PRODUCE CORN.
THAT LAND WAS BEING SWITCHED TO
CORN PRODUCTION, BUT THAT CORN
WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR
CONSTRUCTS THAT USE CORN FOR
FOOD BUT INSTEAD WAS BEING
DIVERTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ETHANOL.
THE BOTTOM LINE, MR. PRESIDENT,
IS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE
THE COST OF THIS POLICY TO OUR
NATION AND ITS TAXPAYERS,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN OUR CURRENT
FISCAL CRISIS.
AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE PROJECTING
A DEFICIT OF THIS YEAR ALONE OF
OF $1.5 TRILLION, WHY IN THE
WORLD ARE WE SPENDING $6 BILLION
SUBSIDIZING ETHANOL?
SUBSIDIZING THE BLENDING OF
CORN-BASED ETHANOL INTO GASOLINE
IS SIMPLY FISCALLY INDEFENSIBLE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORTING THE
COBURN-FEINSTEIN AMENDMENT TO
REPEAL THE ETHANOL EXCISE TAX
CREDIT AND TO ELIMINATE THE
ETHANOL IMPORT TARIFF.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN 1964,
PRESIDENT JOHNSON ENVISIONED AN
AMERICA THAT -- QUOTE -- "RESTS
ON ABUNDANCE AND LIBERTY FOR
ALL."
IT WAS AGAINST L.B.J.'S BACK
DROP OF THE GREAT SOCIETY THAT
COMMUNITY.
WE REIGNITED A COMMISSION OF
A LITTLE SPILLOVER OF THE 1960'S
ALL OF THAT.
AND OUR FLIGHT TO THE MOON AND
BUT THE NATION SOMEHOW CAME
TOGETHER AND WE SENSED THAT WE
WERE A COMMUNITY THAT WE HAD A
MUTUAL OBLIGATION TO EACH OTHER.
AND THAT IS AT THE VERY LEAST, I
THINK, CHARACTERISTICS.
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
F MORE THEN THAN NOW.
PROGRAMS LIKE ADVICE TARKS PEACE
CORPS, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID
WERE BORN IN THOSE YEARS, 1961
THROUGH 1964.
SADLY, NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER
L.B.J.'S WAR ON POVERTY, WE HAVE
WITNESSED VICIOUS ATTEMPTS TO
ROLL BACK GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
DESIGNED TO GIVE LOW-INCOME
AMERICANS A HAND UP IN LIFE.
I DON'T MEAN JUST LOW-INCOME
AMERICANS BUT DISABLED
AMERICANS, VERY POOR SENIOR
AMERICANS WHO QUAYLEIFY FOR BOTH
MEDICARE AND COMID, SUCH AS
THEIR -- SUCH A DIFFICULT
JOURNEY THEY HAVE.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS NOT TO
GIVE PEOPLE A HAND UP BUT SIMPLY
TO BE A SAFETY NET.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID THIS COUNTRY
OWED ITS PEOPLE.
THAT'S TRUE ABOUT DEFENSE AND
THAT'S TRUE ABOUT SOCIAL POLICY.
WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY, ALL OF
US, TO $THAT, TO MAKE SURE
NOBODY IS UTTERLY LEFT OUT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE MUST
REDUCE OUR DEFICIT, AND I HAVE A
WHOLE SERIES OF WAYS THAT THAT
CAN BE DONE IN ABUNDANCE.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT DO SO ON THE
BACKS OF WORKING FAMILIES STILL
STRUGGLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF
THIS RECESSION.
OH, YES WE'RE IN A RECESSION.
SO THAT EVERYTHING THAT WAS TRUE
ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WERE HAVING A
HARD TIME BEFORE IS A LOT TRUER
NOW.
AND YET BILL AFTER BILL PROPOSED
BY REPUBLICANS SEEKS TO DO JUST
EXACTLY THAT.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN H.R.1 WAS A
DIRECT TAC ON AMERICA'S WORKING
FAMILIES.
AND THE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION,
JOB TRAINING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO
COMBAT POVERTY.
AND THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR GOES EVEN
FURTHER.
IT ATTACKS MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID.
THE HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT OVER
100 MILLION AMERICAN PEOPLE RELY
ON, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT
ALL HAVE TO HAVE THAT AS A
SAFETY NET.
AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY, REPUBLICANS
ARE MORE FOCUSED ON SETTLING OLD
SCORES, EVIDENTLY, FROM HEALTH
CARE REFORM AND THE BITTERNESS
OF THAT FIGHT THAN THEY ARE ON
CREATING JOBS OR PROTECTING
PEOPLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN FOR GETTING OUR DEFICIT
UNDER CONTROL AMOUNTS TO AN
UPSIDE DOWN GOVERNMENT.
INSTEAD OF HELPING THOSE WHO
DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN WOULD GUARANTEE
THAT MILLIONAIRES, BILLIONAIRES
AND LARGE CORPORATIONS CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
UNDER THE NEW BUDGET IN
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, SUBSIDIES
THAT WILL GROW EXPONENTIALLY
OVER TIME AND SUBSTANTIALLY
INCREASE OUR BENEFIT.
THEY WILL DO VERY, VERY WELL
INDEED WERE WE TO MAKE THE
TRAGIC MISTAKE OF ACCEPTING
THAT.
SO REPUBLICANS ARE NOT FOR A
FAIR OR BALANCED APPROACH TO
DEFICIT REDUCTION, AND IT IS A
GREAT MYSTERY TO MEEVMENT IT IS
A KWAN DRIVEWAY ME.
IT CAN BE -- YOU CAN SAY IT IS
THEOLOGICAL OR WHATEVER.
YOU CAN MAKE UP ALL KINDS OF
IT.
N.S.A. NASTY POLITICAL VIEWS OF
BUT NEVERTHELESS, THAT'S WHAT IT
IS.
WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR IS A
GOVERNMENT THAT ONLY EXISTS TO
SUPPORT BIG BUSINESS AND WEALTHY
AMERICANS, KIND OF A PERPETUAL
TARP FOR THEIR FRIENDS.
WELL, I REJECT THAT NOTION, AND
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO, TOO.
IN MY ESTIMATION THERE IS NO
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT MORE
FULLY EMBODIES OR NATION'S
TRADITION OF COMMUNITY THAN
MEDICAID.
OUR SENSE OF MUTUAL OBLIGATION.
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WEALTHY,
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN VERY POOR,
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN INBETWEEN.
POOR.
SOME ARE BORN WEALTHY AND BECOME
SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN POOR AND
BECOME WEALTHY.
BUT WHILE THEY ARE DOWN, THEY
HAVE A SAFETY NET AND IT IS
CALLED MEDICAID.
YOU DON'T HEAR PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT IT VERY MUCH, PARTICULARLY
FRANKLY SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTINGLY
FROM MY SIDE OF THE AISLE.
AFTER ALMOST 50 YEARS, MEDICAID
IS STILL A LIFESAVING PART OF
WHAT WE DO AS A GOVERNMENT, WHAT
WE'RE MEANT TO DO AS A
GOVERNMENT.
MEDICAID IS SIMPLY TOO IMPORTANT
TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
NATIONALLY, THERE WERE 68
MILLION PEOPLE ENROLLED IN
MEDICAID IN 2010, 68 MILLION
CHILDREN, SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, PREGNANT WOMEN,
THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE
LIVING ON THE EDGE AND BARELY
MAKING IT.
THEY NOW HAVE A SAFETY NET, MORE
EFFICIENT THAN ANY PRIVATE
INSURANCE PROGRAM IN EXISTENCE.
THEY HAVE THAT.
IN WEST VIRGINIA THERE ARE OVER
402,000 PEOPLE ENROLLED IN 2008.
150 OF THOSE AGED AND DISABLED
AND 191,000 CHILDREN --
CHILDREN.
SO ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO, MEDICAID
IS STILL A LIFESAVING PART OF
OUR NATION'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
IN WEST VIRGINIA, MEDICAID
COVERS 40% OF ALL BIRTHS IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
MEDICAID PAYS FOR -- I'M SORRY
-- IN WEST VIRTUAL A 50% OF ALL
BIRTHS -- IN WEST VIRGINIA, 50%
OF ALL BIRTHS ARE COVERED BY
MEDICAID.
THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING.
IN OUR COUNTRY 40% OF ALL BIRTHS
ARE TAKEN CARE OF BY MEDICAID.
THAT SAYS A LOT.
62% OF LONG-TERM CARE IS
MEDICAID.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, THE
CHILDREN'S HELT HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
FOUGHT REALLY HARD OVER A NUMBER
OF YEARS TO GET THE CHILDREN'S
HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT
WOULD ENSURE MORE -- INSURE MORE
CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT AT THAT
POINT ELIGIBLE.
WELL, THEY'RE STILL GETTING IT,
BUT THE HOUSE WANTS TO GET RID
THAT HAVE PROGRAM ALTOGETHER.
THAT'S 34% OF THE CHILDREN IN
OUR COUNTRY.
MEDICAID PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL
LIFELINE TO FAMILIES DURING
ECONOMIC TIMES WHEN PEOPLE LOSE
JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED
THEM THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
MEDICAID IS THE HEALTH CARE
PROGRAM THAT HELPS STATES DURING
CRISES, NOT JUST PEOPLE BUT
STATES INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY
SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK, HURRICANE
KATRINA, THE RECENT FLOODS AND
TORNADOES IN THE SOUTH AND
MIDWEST -- ALL BEING HELPED BY
MEDICAID.
MEDICAID IS PART OF THE FABRIC
OF OUR GREAT NATION AND TO BE
CLEAR AT THIS POINT, I NEED TO
SAY THAT THE HOUSE BILL THAT WAS
PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND WHO
VOTED FOR IT AND WHO DIDN'T IS
OBVIOUSLY VERY MUCH ON RECORD
WOULD DEVASTATE MEDICAID AND
GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL OUST
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING -- OUT OF
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.
ANYWAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE COVERED
BY MEDICAID DO MATTER.
THEY ARE PEOPLE.
THEY ARE FAMILIES.
THEY HAVE THEIR NEEDS, THEIR
WANTS, THEIR AMBITIONS, THEIR
DREAMS, THEIR SADNESSES, THEIR
DEPRESSIONS, WHATEVER.
DARREN HALE FROM PRINCETON, WEST
VIRGINIA,, WROTE MEEVMENT "I AM
DISABLED.
I AM A DISABLED WEST VIRGINIAN
WHOSE FAMILY LEE LIES RELIES ON
MEDICAID ON THE ONE HAND
MEDICARE."
A YOU DON'TA DUAL-ELIGIBLE, NOT ABLE TO
SURVIVE SIMPLY ON ONE OR THE
OTHER.
"I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THESE
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS WON'T BE
ENDED OR TOTALLY CHANGED.
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT REPUBLICAN
CHANGES TO THESE PROGRAMS AS A
WAY OF CUTTING COSTS TO THE
TAXPAYER.
THE POOR OF WEST VIRGINIA AND
ELSEWHERE SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT
BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE DEFICIT
REDUCTION THAT REPUBLICANS WANT
WANT."
WE NEED TO THINK VERY SERIOUSLY,
MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT OUR
PRIORITIES.
THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION
REALLY LEADS ME TO.
LET'S SAY I'M A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY
AND I'LL BEING BROUGHT UP IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
MY MEANS ARE MEAGER, AND I STEP
OUT INTO A ROAD AND AM HIT BY A
CAR.
I DON'T DIE, BUT PERHAPS MY
SPINE IS FRACTURED PROBABLY,
SEVERAL LEGS BROKEN, AND I AM
CONDEMNED TO A LIFE IN A
WHEELCHAIR FOR THE REST OF MY
LIFE.
NOW, THAT CHILD IS NOT PROTECTED
BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
THAT CHILD, UNLESS IT IS AN
UNUSUAL CHILD FROM A FAIRLY
WEALTHY FAMILY, IS -- WHO THEN
CAN PROVIDE INSURANCE BUT THEY
WILL SPEND THEMSELVES DOWN WITH
THAT INSURANCE BEING SO
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY
MEDICAID.
WILL EVENTUALLY QUALIFY FOR
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE HIT BY A
CAR, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
YOU PLAN ON.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU
FAIL TO DO BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T
HAVE A WORK ETHIC OR WHATEVER
THAT.
THE COMMON WISDOM WOULD BE ABOUT
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED.
BUT THE FACT REMAINS, YOUR
HEALTH CARE IS CUT.
YOUR LIFE IS CHANGED.
AND IT GROWS MORE MISERABLE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING IN THE
WAY OF A SAFETY NET IF THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS PASSED, IF
WE GET TOO AGGRESSIVE ABOUT
CUTTING MEDICAID.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M TROUBLED THAT
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SENIOR
ADVOCATES HAVE RIGHTFULLY
RALLIED IN STAUNCH DEFENSE.
YOU CAN FIND WONDERFUL GROUPS
HERE IN WASHINGTON WHO RISE UP
IN AINGER WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
-- IN ANGER WHEN PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT CUTTING MEDICAID.
THEY'RE FOR MEDICAID.
THEY KNOW WHAT IT WAS INTENDED
THEY WE IN IT DOES.
TO DO, THEY KNOW TWHA IT DOES
AND THEY KNOW WHAT DIFFERENCE IT
MAKES.
BUT ASIDE FROM AN OCCASIONAL
EDITORIAL OR STORY, THERE HAS
BEEN AN UNSETTLING SILENCE ABOUT
MEDICAID.
EVEN FROM MEMBERS OF MY OWN
PARTY.
THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT
THE FIVE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE IN
SUPPORT OF MEDICARE, WHICH SEEM
TO HAVE A REBIRTH RECENTLY, ARE
ALSO TRUE OF MEDICARE --
MEDICAID.
ONE, THE PUBLIC STRONGLY
SUPPORTS MEDICAID.
JUST AS THEY DO MEDICARE.
60% OF THE PEOPLE JOSE THAT THEY
WOULD -- 60% OF THE PEOPLE SAY
THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO KEEP
MEDICAID JUST AS IT IS NOW.
THAT SURPRISES ME.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE FIGURE
WOULD BE LOWER.
TWO, MEDICAID ALSO CREATES JOBS,
UNLIKE TAX CUTS FOR OIL
COMPANIES AND RICH PEOPLE, ET
CETERA.
EVERY $1 MILLION IN FEDERAL
MEDICAID SPENDING RESULTS IN
17.1 NEW JOBS.
SOUND BORG, MAYBE IT IS.
BUT NOT TO THE PEOPLE WHO GET
THOSE JOBS.
THAT'S HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES,
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND
DOCTORS' OFFICES BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT MEDICAID COVERS.
FOUR, A MEDICAID BLOCK GRANT OR
A SPENDING CAP, WHICH IS
PROPOSED BY SOME.
THE CAP IS PROPOSED BY SOME TO
GET A AWAY FROM THE WORD BLOCK
GRANT.
BUT THE EFFECT IS THE SAME.
THEY WOULD BOTH REDUCE MEDICAID
BENEFITS AND INCREASE
COST-SHARING FOR SENIORS -- FOR
ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS ON
MEDICAID FROM DAY ONE.
UNDERSTAND THAT CLEARLY.
I WOULD SAY THAT TO MY
COLLEAGUES.
MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT A
MEDICARE VOUCHER SYSTEM --
MEDICARE VOUCHER S BUT CAPPING
MEDICAID SPENDING WOULD BE JUST
AS BAD FOR THE 5.5 MILLION
SENIORS AND 11 MILLION
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.
FIVE, INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE
DEFICIT, THE SAVINGS ACHIEVED BY
DRASTICALLY CUTTING MEDICAID
WOULD ALSO BE USED TO PAY FOR
MORE TAX BREAKS FOR WEALTHY
AMERICANS AND LARGE
CORPORATIONS.
AND HERE'S WHERE I COME TO WHAT
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS
BODY.
AMERICA.
EVIDENTLY, IT ISN'T GOING ON IN
60% DON'T WANT MEDICAID, 82%
DIDN'T WANT MEDICARE TOUCHED.
JUST THE ENACT IT IS A MAJORITY
ON MEDICAID IS AMAZING AND
WONDERFUL TO MEEVMENT
TO ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I THINK IT'S POLITICAL.
I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT POOR
PEOPLE, THE DISABLED -- I RUN
INTO THEM OFTEN, SEEK THEM OUT
SOMETIMES, THE DISABLED.
THEY GATHER IN CLUSTERS.
WHEELCHAIRS.
YOU SEE 50, 75 PEOPLE IN
WHAT DO THEY DEPEND ON?
THEY DEPEND ON MEDICAID.
WE SEE THEM HERE IN THE CAPITOL.
DO PEOPLE STOP TO SEE THEM?
NOT PARTICULARLY, NO.
THEY KNOW THAT SO THEY'RE NOT
VERY GOOD LOBBYISTS.
THEY CAN'T BE VERY GOOD
LOBBYISTS; IT'S HARDER FOR THEM
TO GET AROUND.
SO IS IT POLITICAL?
I MEAN, THE RYAN BUDGET CUTS
TAXES ON THE WEALTHY, ON
BIG-DEAL PEOPLE AND BIG-DEAL
CORPORATIONS BY $4 TRILLION, BUT
CUTS MEDICAID.
CONSCIENCE?
IS THAT AN ACT OF SOCIAL
IS THAT AN ACT OF BUDGET WISDOM?
IS THAT A THOUGHT-THROUGH VALUE
SYSTEM?
OR IS IT JUST POLITIC
BASICALLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT
POOR PEOPLE DON'T VOTE?
IS.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE ANSWER
YOU GET WORRIED ABOUT MEDICARE
REAL FAST, AND WE SAW THE
RESULTS.
WE SAW THE HOUSE BACK OFF FROM
THAT COMPLETELY.
MEDICAID, NOT SO.
AND IT WON'T BE SO UNLESS PEOPLE
START STANDING UP FOR MEDICAID,
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
LOBBYISTS.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD LOBBYISTS.
THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK THAT MUCH
FOR THEMSELVES.
I DON'T GET AS MANY LETTERS FROM
THEM BY A FACTOR OF TEN AS I DO
FROM MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.
THERE'S SORT OF A SENSE THAT
LIFE HAS IT IN FOR THEM.
AND THAT'S PARTLY AN APPALACHIAN
CHARACTERISTIC AND I THINK MANY
OF MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND
I OFTEN REGRET IT.
A CERTAIN FATALISM IN LIFE THAT
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU AND IT
ISN'T NECESSARILY VERY GOOD.
AND IF PEOPLE ACCEPT THAT --
WHICH I DON'T -- AS A THEORY,
THEN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FIGHT
FOR WHAT LYNDON JOHNSON GAVE TO
THE NATION AND PASSED
OVERWHELMINGLY IN 1965.
ANY DEEP CUTS TO MEDICAID WILL
ALSO, TO THE PLEASURE OF SOME,
UNDERMINE THE HEALTH CARE REFORM
LAW THAT WE JUST PASSED, WHICH
STILL IS LAW.
MEDICAID IS THE UNDERPINNING OF
THE ENTIRE COVERAGE EXPANSION
AND REFORM.
WE TALK ABOUT 32 MILLION PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER.
THAT GOES WAY DOWN,
MR. PRESIDENT, IF THESE MEDICAID
CUTS ARE MADE.
SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, WHY IS
MEDICAID SO OFTEN TREATED LIKE A
SECOND-CLASS PROGRAM?
AND MORE TO THE POINT, WHY ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID
TREATED SO OFTEN AS SECOND-CLASS
PEOPLE?
HOW DOES THAT WORK OUT?
IS THAT A PRODUCT OF THE
AMERICAN SENSE OF JUSTICE?
IS THAT THOUGHTFUL AMERICA
LOOKING AT, YOU LOOK AROUND YOU.
FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN ON
I HAVE FRIENDS, WE ALL HAVE
MEDICAID, ARE ON MEDICAID, WERE
ON MEDICAID, HAVE MADE IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THOSE
PEOPLE FORGET THEIR MEDICAID
BACKGROUND AND TURN AWAY FROM
THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE INTO A NEW
AND BETTER LIFE.
SOMEBODY HAS TO FIGHT FOR THESE
PEOPLE, MR. PRESIDENT.
SOMEBODY HAS TO FIGHT FOR THEM.
IS IT THE FEELING THAT MAYBE
THEY'RE AN UNWANTED BURDEN ON
SOCIETY?
WE HAVE A TENDENCY IN AMERICA TO
SAY THAT IF YOU DON'T WORK, IT'S
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO.
IF YOU'RE NOT -- IF YOU DON'T
HAVE A DECENT JOB AND YOU HAVE A
SHABBY HOME, IT'S BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT YOU SOUGHT.
NOT WHAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU IN
YOUR, AT LEAST DESTINY OF THE
MOMENT.
AGAIN, I THINK IS IT BECAUSE
MOST OF THE PEOPLE ENROLLED ARE
LOW-INCOME AND MANY TYPICALLY DO
NOT VOTE?
I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP PRETTY
WELL.
BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S VERY HARD -- YOU CAN'T GO
INTO THE HOLLOWS OF APPALACHIA
OR NEBRASKA OR OTHER PLACES AND
ORGANIZE POOR PEOPLE TO VOTE
BECAUSE THEIR SENSE IS WHY?
WHAT DOES IT GET ME?
WHERE DOES IT GET ME?
DECADE AFTER DECADE.
A LITTLE BIT IS THERE ON THE
PART OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A
LITTLE SENSE OF A DISDAIN
TOWARDS PEOPLE ON MEDICAID?
THAT SOMEHOW MEDICAID -- A
GLORIOUS PROGRAM -- IS AN
INGLORIOUS WORD WHEN APPLIED TO
INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE IT IMPLIES
THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BETTER
THEMSELVES.
NOW I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH
MY VISTA EXPERIENCE IN WEST
VIRGINIA FOR THE 58th TIME ON
THIS FLOOR, BUT ALL I CAN TELL
YOU IS I SAW SO MANY EXAMPLES OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEATEN DOWN NOT
WITH A CUDGEL, BUT THEY WERE
BEATEN DOWN BECAUSE ALL ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY VANISHED FROM THEIR
DOWN.
LIFE, ALL THE COAL MINES SHUT
THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER JOBS
AROUND.
THEY DIDN'T GET TO GO TO SCHOOL.
WHY DIDN'T THEY GET TO GO TO
SCHOOL?
BECAUSE NO SCHOOL BUS WOULD COME
PICK THEM UP BECAUSE THEY WERE
TOO FAR BEYOND THE END OF A HARD
ROAD AND COUNTY LAW SAID YOU
DON'T HAVE TO PICK THEM UP.
THE DECK STACKED AGAINST YOU?
YES, IT IS.
NOW OUT OF THAT GROUP, THERE IS
40.
ONE -- I GUESS HE'S A GUY ABOUT
I WON'T MENTION HIS NAME, BUT
HE'S GOT A TERRIFIC JOB.
HE WORKS WITH C.S.X. SYSTEM, IS
ONE OF THEIR RAILROAD
MAINTENANCE PEOPLE.
HE'S GOT A GOOD FAMILY.
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PERSON.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HIS PARENTS WERE
KILLED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND
HIS BROTHERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.
SO IT REALLY TAKES SOMETHING
SPECIAL TO FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT OF
THAT SELF-DEFINED POSITION AND
MAKE YOU MOVE FORWARD.
SO I MUST SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES
THAT THE POINT OF A
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IS NOT
TO SERVE THE FEW, NOT EVEN TO
SERVE MANY, BUT TO SERVE ALL AS
BEST AS WE CAN.
DOES THAT MEAN WE DON'T TOUCH
ANYTHING IN MEDICAID?
NO, IT DOESN'T.
BUT DOES IT MEAN THAT WE KEEP
MEDICAID AS A SAFETY NET?
YES, IT DOES.
WE DON'T -- WE'RE NOT HERE
ELECTED BY SOME PEOPLE WITH
DOLLARS.
INCOMES ABOVE "X" AMOUNT OF
WE'RE HERE BY ALL PEOPLE, EVEN
THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR
US OR DIDN'T VOTE AT ALL.
I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND
I TAKE MY EXPERIENCE WITH WEST
VIRGINIA VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
SO 68 MILLION PEOPLE ENROLLED IN
MEDICAID.
I THINK THEY DESERVE A VOICE IN
THIS DEBATE, AND I FOR ONE AM
GOING TO SPEAK OUT FOR THEM.
IT'S BECAUSE SOMEHOW WE FEEL
THAT MEDICAID RECIPIENTS ARE NOT
WORTHY -- I'VE EXPRESSED THAT IN
A DIFFERENT WORD -- SIMPLY
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FALLEN ON HARD
TIMES OR THEY WERE BORN IN HARD
TIMES.
HOW DO YOU HELP THAT?
YOUR FATHER DIDN'T WORK, YOUR
MOTHER DIDN'T WORK; THERE WASN'T
ANY WORK AVAILABLE SO YOU'RE
BORN IN THAT SITUATION.
IT?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT
YOU'RE BORN IN THE GHETTO.
RISE ABOVE THAT.
BARACK OBAMA DID.
THEREFORE, SO CAN ANYBODY.
LIFE DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT, AND
THE PRESIDING OFFICER KNOWS THAT
VERY, VERY WELL.
THEN I MUST ASK OF MY
COLLEAGUES: HOW COULD THIS BE?
WE ALL HAVE NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE FRIENDS, WE HAVE FAMILY
THAT HAVE OR DO BENEFIT FROM
MEDICAID, EVEN PERHAPS IN THEIR
DISTANT PAST.
IN FACT, NEARLY HALF OF ALL
AMERICANS HAVE A FRIEND OR
FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS RECEIVED
MEDICAID ASSISTANCE AT SOME
POINT, AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY
WORTHY OF OUR SUPPORT.
IS IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
MEDICAID SPENDING IS TRULY OUT
OF CONTROL?
THEN I WOULD REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES THAT MEDICAID COSTS
PER BENEFICIARY GREW MUCH LOWER
OVER THE PAST DECADE THAN COSTS
FOR ANY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN
MEDICAID ARE ABOUT BETWEEN 1%
AND 2%.
THE AVERAGE HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANY PROBABLY 10%, 15%, 20%.
ALL OF THIS DESPITE THE FACT
THAT MEDICAID'S MORE
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS ARE
THERE.
THEY'RE MUCH LARGER BENEFITS.
THEY COVER MORE.
THEY DO MORE FOR PEOPLE.
AND SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER COST
SHARING.
I FERVENTLY BELIEVE,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THE AMERICAN
TRADITION OF SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY, EVERYBODY
WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER
GOOD, IS A TRADITION WORTH
UPHOLDING AND THAT A GOVERNMENT
HAS AN ONGOING ROLE TO PLAY IN
ITS PRESERVATION.
CANNOT PLAY THAT ROLE PERFECTLY,
BUT CAN DO IT AS BEST AND MOST
FAIRLY AS IS POSSIBLE.
INSTEAD OF SHORTCHANGING
MEDICAID, WE MUST HAVE THE
COURAGE TO REIN IN TAX BREAKS
FOR CORPORATE AMERICA AND FOR
PEOPLE OF GREAT WEALTH.
MEDICAID DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT
WAS DESIGNED TO DO ALL THOSE
YEARS AGO, MR. PRESIDENT.
LOW-INCOME AMERICANS.
PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR
THERE ARE LOTS OF WORTHWHILE AND
POSITIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN
IMPROVE THE PROGRAM, I GRANT YOU
THAT, BUT TRASHING MEDICAID,
GUTTING MEDICAID AND ESPECIALLY
IF IT'S SORT OF OUT OF, SORT
FLIPPING IT ASIDE OR FOR
POLITICAL GAIN, CANNOT BE AN
OPTION.
I THANK THE CHAIR, AND I YIELD
THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
TOMORROW AFTERNOON WE'RE GOING