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THIS TIME TO YIELD TIME TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ATHENS, AUGUSTA,
AND MY HOMETOWN, DR. PAUL
BROUN.
THANK YOU.
DR. GINGREY, I HAVE TAKEN A
HISTORY AND PHYSICAL OF
OBAMACARE AND I HAVE LOOKED AT
ALL THE LABORATORY RESULTS, I'VE
LOOKED AT ALL THE X-RAY RESULTS
AND I'VE GOT A DIAGNOSIS.
OBAMACARE IS A DESTROYER.
IT'S GOING TO DESTROY JOBS IN
AMERICA.
JOBS.
I'VE GOT A LADY IN MY DISTRICT
THAT RIGHT NOW TODAY HAS EIGHT
PEOPLE IN HER EMPLOYMENT.
SHE DESPERATELY WANTS TO EXPAND
HER BUSINESS, SHE'D LIKE TO HIRE
AT LEAST ONE OR TWO MORE PEOPLE
FOR HER SMALL BUSINESS, BUT
SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE
OF THE ONEROUS EFFECT OF
OBAMACARE ON HER BUSINESS.
SO IT'S DESTROYING AT LEAST ONE
OR TWO JOBS IN THAT ONE LADY'S
BUSINESS.
I'VE GOT ANOTHER BUSINESS MAN IN
MY DISTRICT THAT WANTS TO MAKE A
$31 MILLION EXPANSION OF HIS
BUSINESS.
HE HAS THE CASH IN THE BANK.
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BORROW
IT, WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS AND
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING WITH
THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT THE
FRANK-DODD BILL HAS PLACED ON
BANKS AS WELL AS SMALL BUSINESS,
HE WANTS TO MAKE A $31 MILLION
EXPANSION OF HIS BUSINESS.
BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT.
BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.
AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED
TAXES AND ALSO THE INCREASED
BURDEN THAT THIS IS GOING TO
PLACE ON HIM.
THAT'S KILLING HUNDREDS OF JOBS.
JUST IN TWO BUSINESSES WITHIN MY
SO IT'S GOING TO DESTROY JOBS,
BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO DESTROY
BUDGETS.
IT EXPANDS MEDICAID.
IN FACT, THE STATE OF GEORGIA
HAS A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
TO OUR STATE CONSTITUTION, OUR
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THEY'RE JUST
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
TRYING TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET
WITH A $2 BILLION SHORTFALL
BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN OF THE
ECONOMY, DOWNTURN OF THE ECONOMY
NAFFS CREATED BASICALLY BECAUSE
-- THAT WAS CREATED BASICALLY
BECAUSE OF POLICIES THAT WERE
PUT IN PLACE BY DEMOCRATS.
BARNEY FRANK WAS A BIG PART OF
THAT, TOO.
BUT OBAMACARE EXPANDS MEDICAID
MARKEDLY.
IN FACT, THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS
GOING TO HAVE TO ADD ABOUT HALF
AGAIN AS MANY PEOPLE TO THE
MEDICAID ROLLS IN GEORGIA AND
THE STATE BUDGET'S GOING TO HAVE
TO PICK THAT UP AND IT'S GOING
TO SHORE THE -- DESTROY THE
STATE BUDGET AND IT'S GOING TO
DESTROY EVERY STATE BUDGET IN
THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S GOING TO
DESTROY OUR BUDGET.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AFFORDABLE.
ADMINISTRATION ALREADY I THINK
IT'S 1,168 WAIVERS THAT THEY'VE
ALREADY GIVEN TO UNIONS AND
BUSINESSES AND DIFFERENT
ENTITIES, JUST BECAUSE OF THE
ONEROUS FINANCIAL AFFECTS IT'S
GOING TO CAUSE TO ALL THOSE
PEOPLE.
AND IT'S GOING TO DESTROY FAMILY
BUDGETS.
I HAD A LADY TELL ME ABOUT HER
26-YEAR-OLD SON RECENTLY THAT
HIS INSURANCE DOUBLED FROM LAST
YEAR TO THIS BECAUSE OF
OBAMACARE.
HE'S PAYING FOR HIS INSURANCE
HIMSELF.
AND HE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO IT'S GOING TO DESTROY BUDGET,
IT'S GOING TO DESTROY FAMILY
BUDGET, IT'S GOING TO DESTROY
STATE BUDGETS, IT'S GOING TO
DESTROY THE FEDERAL BUDGET.
NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO DESTROY
JOBS, IT WILL DESTROY BUDGETS,
IT'S ALSO GOING TO DESTROY THE
QUAFLT HEALTH CARE.
IN FACT, -- THE QUALITY OF
HEALTH CARE.
IN FACT, WE WERE TOLD AND I'M
SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THIS
UP, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE
TOLD BY THE PRESIDENT, IF YOU
LIKE YOUR INSURANCE, YOU CAN
KEEP IT.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM
THE TRUTH.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND OBAMACARE WAS
DESIGNED TO FORCE EVERYBODY OUT
OF THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE AND
INTO A SINGLE-PAYER SOCIALIZED
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF SAID THAT HE
WANTED JUST BEFORE OBAMACARE WAS
PASSED INTO LAW.
SO MY DIAGNOSIS IS, IT'S A
DESTROYER.
IT'S GOING TO DESTROY JOBS, IT'S
GOING TO DESTROY BUDGETS, IT'S
GOING TO DESTROY THE QUALITY
HEALTH CARE.
AND ALSO HOW THEY -- PLAN OF
ACTION.
SO I MADE THE ASSESSMENT SO WE
NEED TO HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION.
AND OUR PLAN OF ACTION, DR.
GINGREY, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS, IT'S
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE
REPEAL OBAMACARE AND REPLACE
THAT LAW WITH SOMETHING THAT
MAKES SENSE, THAT TRULY LOWERS
THE COST OF HEALTH CARE.
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS
REPUBLICAN BILLS INTRODUCED HERE
IN THIS CONGRESS, IN THE LAST
CONGRESS, THAT WOULD LOWER THE
COST OF HEALTH CARE.
I INTRODUCED TWO THAT WOULD
APPEAL OBAMACARE AND REPLACE IT
WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
SOMEONE A COMPREHENSIVE BILL.
I CALL IT THE PATIENT OPTION
ACT.
IT'S 106 PAGE, NOT ALMOST 3,000.
AND THEN I INTRODUCED ANOTHER
ACT THAT DEMOCRAT AFTER DEMOCRAT
COLLEAGUE TOLD ME, PAUL, THIS
MAKES SENSE, MORESO THAN
OBAMACARE.
IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO
DO IT IN A STEP BY STEP PROCESS.
IT WOULD ALLOW PURCHASES FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES
ACROSS STATE LINES.
IT WOULD ALLOW ANYBODY IN THIS
COUNTRY TO BUY INSURANCE THROUGH
THEY'D HAVE MULTIPLE INSURANCE
PRODUCTS.
AT A MUCH LOWER COST.
IT WOULD STIMULATE THE STATES TO
SET UP HIGH RISK POOLS.
SEVERAL STATES HAVE ALREADY
THAT MISSISSIPPI, I TALKED TO
GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR ABOUT HIS
PLAN, THEIR HIGH RISK POOL THAT
THEY HAVE IN MISSISSIPPI THAT'S
BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, COLORADO'S
DONE THE SAME THING, I
UNDERSTAND.
IS ALLOW EVERYBODY TO DEDUCT
100% OF THEIR HEALTH CARE COSTS
OFF THEIR INCOME TAXES.
THAT WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF
HEALTH CARE.
SO, DR. GINGREY, I'VE DONE THAT
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, HISTORY
AND PHYSICAL, MY SUBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT AND A PLAN.
THE PLAN IS WE MUST, ABSOLUTELY
MUST REPEAL OBAMACARE AND
REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
A MARKET-BASED SYSTEM THAT
LITERALLY LOWERS THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE AND KEEPS ALL
DECISIONS IN THE DOCTOR-PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP.
OBAMACARE DOES NONE OF THOSE.
IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE FOR THE
GOVERNMENT NOR INDIVIDUALS NOR
BUSINESSES, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
GOING TO PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF
CARE BECAUSE IT IS A DESTROYER.
SO I HAVE MADE THAT DIAGNOSIS,
DR. GINGREY, AND I WILL YIELD
BACK TO YOU FOR OUR FURTHER
DISCUSSION.
MR. SPEAKER, I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS
CONTRIBUTION AND FOR BEING WITH
US THIS EVENING.
I'VE REALIZED THERE ARE
CONFLICTING THINGS GOING ON ON
CAPITOL HILL THIS EVENING, VERY
IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT I REALLY
APPRECIATE DR. BROUN BEING WITH
US AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALSO
BEEN JOINED BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF
THE DOCTORS CAUCUS, THAT'S OUR
GOOD FRIEND AND NEW MEMBER,
FRESHMAN MEMBER, FROM THE GREAT,
GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK, WHERE
MY DAUGHTER AND SEASONAL RESIDE
AND -- SON-IN-LAW RESIDE AND MS.
BUERKLE IS A REGISTERED NURSE BY
PROFESSION AND CERTAINLY KNOWS
OF WHAT SHE SPEAKS IN REGARD TO
HEALTH CARE, REPRESENTING THE
ANGELS OF MERCY, IF WILL YOU,
AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE
TO YIELD TIME TO ANN MARIE
BUERKLE.
SHE IS CONCERNED, MR. SPEAKER,
ABOUT THE HEALTH INSURANCE
INDUSTRY AND THE COMPLEXITY OF
SUCH AND MAYBE EVEN WANTS TO
DISCUSS SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN
CHANGE AND IMPROVE CERTAINLY --
IMPROVE, CERTAINLY IMPROVEMENT
IS CALLED FOR AND IT DOESN'T
HAVE TO BE WITHIN A 2,400-PAGE
BILL, AS DR. BROUN WAS
MENTIONING OBAMACARE ENTAILS.
SO AT THIS TIME I'M PROUD TO
YIELD TO REPRESENTATIVE ANN
MARIE BUERKLE.
THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S GOOD TO BE
I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLEMAN, MY COLLEAGUE FROM
GEORGIA.
I AM VERY HONORED TO BE HERE TO
SPEAK ABOUT HEALTH CARE IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AS WAS SAID, I AM A REGISTERED
NURSE, I'VE BASKETBALL BEEN A
REGISTERED NURSE FOR -- I'VE
BEEN A REGISTERED NURSE SINCE
1972.
A TIME IN OUR NATION'S HEALTH
HISTORY WHERE THE PHYSICIANS AND
THE PATIENT HAD A RELATIONSHIP
AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT
RELATIONSHIP.
AND THEN AFTER A WHILE I WENT
INTO LAW AND FOR THE LAST 13
YEARS, MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE BEEN
A HEALTH CARE ATTORNEY FOR A
LARGE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK, FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS.
AND WHAT WE DID IN THAT HOSPITAL
AND IN MY ROLE AS AN ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS WE LOOKED
AT MONEY, MONEY THAT WAS OWED TO
THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SO I
HAD A VERY UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL
LOOK AT THE COMPLEXITY OF HEALTH
CARE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY.
AND I CONTEND THAT THIS BILL,
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT
DOES ANYTHING BUT REFORM HEALTH
CARE, WILL ONLY INCREASE THE
THIS COUNTRY.
IT WILL ONLY MAKE IT MORE
COMPLICATED.
IT WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE -- PUT
THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE PATIENT-PHYSICIAN
RELATIONSHIP AND I CONTEND
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA IS ABOUT.
WE NEED TO LET THE FREE MARKET
PLAY HERE IN OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
I'VE SPOKEN IN THE DISTRICT TO
MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
I'VE DONE ALL KINDS OF TALKS,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING MORE UPCLOSE
AND PERSONAL AND OF GREAT
CONCERN TO ME AS THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS
EVERY AMERICAN IN ONE WAY, SHAPE
OR FORM.
THIS HEALTH CARE BILL DOES NOT
IMPROVE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IN THIS COUNTRY.
I CAME TO WASHINGTON WITH A WIDE
RANGE OF GOALS AS A FRESHMAN, AS
MY COLLEAGUE HAS MENTIONED.
BUT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO
ME THAN REPEALING THIS HEALTH
CARE BILL, THIS 2,000-PLUS-PAGE
BILL THAT DOES ANYTHING BUT
REFORM HEALTH CARE.
IT ADDS TO THE COMPLEXITY OF AN
ALREADY COMPLEX SYSTEM, IT PUTS
THE GOVERNMENT IN PLACES WHERE
IT SHOULDN'T BE, IT DOESN'T
PROTECT THAT PATIENT-PHYSICIAN
RELATIONSHIP.
LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS IN THE
DISTRICT I HAD MY VERY FIRST
HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING AND I SPOKE WITH A GROUP
OF PHYSICIANS, A GROUP OF HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS, HOSPITAL
ADMINISTRATORS, AND WE HAD A
CONVERSATION AND I SAID TO THEM,
WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS AS HEALTH
YOU'RE ON THE FRONTLINE, WHAT
CAN WE DO DOWN IN WASHINGTON TO
MAKE HEALTH CARE, THE DELIVERY
SYSTEM BETTER, THE DELIVERY
SYSTEM MORE AFFORDABLE?
AND THEY LOOKED AT ME AND
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH ALL OF THE
PEOPLE ON THE FRONTLINES CAME UP
WITH DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.
BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
DOCTORS AND HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS ARE GOOD AT DIAGNOSING
, THE QUESTION IS NOW ABOUT THE
SOLUTION.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR
HEALTH CARE IN THIS COUNTRY?
AND WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SAY,
THIS BILL IS THE WRONG BILL FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
BUT WE'RE NOT WILLING TO LEAVE
IT GO AT THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT TRUE HEALTH
CARE REFORM WILL INCLUDE MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE REFORM, WE NEEDER TO
THE REFORM IN THIS COUNTRY -- WE
NEED TORT REFORM IN THIS
COUNTRY, WE NEED TO INCREASE THE
USE OF HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT,
WE NEED TO MAKE INSURANCE
PORTABLE SO WE CAN, WHEN A
PERSON LOSES THEIR JOB, THEY
DON'T NECESSARILY LOSE THEIR
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR THE
PURCHASE OF HEALTH CARE ACROSS
STATE LINES.
WE NEED TO PUT THE PATIENT BACK
IN THE CENTER OF HEALTH CARE.
AND I CONTEND THAT THIS HEALTH
CARE BILL DOES NOT DO THAT.
SO AS WE SAT AROUND AND I SAID
TO MY GROUP OF HEALTH CARE
ADVISORS AND I SAID TO THEM,
WHAT IS IT THAT CONCERNS YOU
MOST REGARDING HEALTH CARE IN
THIS COUNTRY?
AND THE FIRST THING WAS, OUR
HEALTH CARE THIS HEALTH CARE
BILL THAT WAS JUST PASSED.
AND WHEN YOU GET INTO WHY DID
DOES IT CONCERN YOU, BECAUSE IT
ADDS SO MANY LAYERS OF
BUREAUCRACY AND REGULATIONS TO
AN ALREADY LADENED BUREAUCRACY
AND ALREADY AN INDUSTRY AND
SYSTEM THAT'S LADENED WITH
REGULATIONS.
IF YOU TALK TO A HOSPITAL OR A
PHYSICIAN, THE REGULATIONS AND
THE IMPEDIMENTS THEY HAVE TO
ACCESS THAT PATIENT FOR HEALTH
CARE IS INCREDIBLE.
AND SO THE CONCERN WITH THIS
BILL IS IT ADDS SO MANY MORE
LAYERS, IT TAKES THIS HEALTH
CARE BILL AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS WITH THIS HEALTH CARE
BILL IS THAT IT TAKES A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AND IT HANDS IT OFF
TO THE REGULATORS AND THEN WITH
THE REGULATORS THEY'RE LEFT TO
INTERPRET AND TO DEAL WITH AND
COME UP WITH REGULATIONS THAT
AFFECT OUR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS.
BEYOND THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THE
NEED FOR TORT REFORM.
WE NEED MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
LIABILITY REFORM IF WE'RE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING THE COST
THAT.
AND THEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE
INCREASED REGULATIONS ON THE
HEALTH CARE PROFESSION.
WHAT WE ALL AGREED UPON IN THAT
MEETING WAS THAT THE HEALTH CARE
IN THIS COUNTRY, IT'S A GOOD
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, WE HAVE GOOD
HEALTH CARE, THE QUALITY OF
HEALTH CARE IS NOT THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS THE SYSTEM OF
HEALTH CARE.
THAT BILL THAT WAS PASSED IN
2010 DOES NOTHING TO MAKE THAT
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BETTER.
IT ONLY ECONOMY COMPLI CATES IT,
IT ONLY LADENED IT WITH MORE
REGULATIONS AND ONCE AGAIN PUTS
THE GOVERNMENT BACK IN BETWEEN
THE PHYSICIAN AND THE PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE WHO HAS AN
ESTEEMED HISTORY OF BEING A
MEDICAL PROVIDER IN THE HEALTH
CARE INDUSTRY AND HE UNDERSTANDS
THESE ISSUES, HE UNDERSTANDS
WHAT GOOD HEALTH CARE, WHAT A
GOOD HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WOULD
LOOK LIKE, SO I COMMEND HIM AND
I THANK HIM FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
I THINK THAT WITH WHAT WE NEED
TO DO HERE IN WASHINGTON -- THAT
WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE IN
WASHINGTON IS TO REPEAL THIS
HEALTH CARE BILL AND WE NEED TO
PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER
COLLECTIVELY AND TALK TO THE
PROFESSIONALS, TALK TO THE
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, TALK TO
THE PATIENTS AND GET TOGETHER
AND COME UP WITH A SYSTEMIC PLAN
THAT WILL REDUCE THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE, HELP TO IMPROVE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND NOT,
NOT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE
WUSM HEALTH CARE THAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA OFFERS.
IN MY YEARS IN THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE, AS
REPRESENTING A LARGE TEACHING
HOSPITAL, I KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
WANTED TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY
FOR HEALTH CARE.
I KNOW PEOPLE FROM CANADA AND
FROM EUROPE, BECAUSE THEY KNEW
THEY HAD ACCESS TO GOOD, QUALITY
THEY KNEW THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A
SIX OR A NINE-MONTH WAIT.
I THINK WITH THIS SYSTEM, IF WE
ALLOW IT TO GO ON, THIS HEALTH
CARE BILL, WE WILL SEE THOSE SIX
AND THOSE NINE-MONTH WAITS WHILE
PATIENTS ARE WAITING FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE ACCESS.
SO WE NEED, WE NEED TO REPEAL
THIS BILL AND WE NEED TO ENACT
TRUE HEALTH CARE REFORM SO THAT
WE CAN IMPROVE ACCESS, WE CAN
REDUCE THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
AND WE CAN MAINTAIN THE FINE
QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE IN THIS
SYSTEM.
THUNGE MY COLLEAGUE, AND I
YIELD BACK.
I THAN THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK FOR
SHARING HER THOUGHTS.
CERTAINLY, I AGREE COMPLETELY
WITH HER.
SHE CLEARLY KNOWS OF WHAT SHE
SPEAKS.
THIS LAW IS NO LONGER A BILL.
IT IS NOW THE LAW.
PATIENT PROTECTION, AFFORDABLE
-- PATIENT PROTECTION AND
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, IT'S BEEN
THE LAW FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN
A YEAR AND OF COURSE THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
THAT ESTIMATES THE COST OF LAWS
THAT WE PUT INTO EFFECT, THEY
GIVE US AN ESTIMATE WHEN IT'S
IN THE BILL FORM SO MEMBERS CAN
DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WHAT
WE'RE ABOUT TO DO IS SOMETHING
THAT IS AFFORDABLE.
AND THE ESTIMATE OF THIS LAW
COSTING $900 BILLION, MR.
SPEAKER, THE TRUE COST OVER THE
NEXT 20 YEARS IS PROBABLY IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $3
TRILLION.
NOT $900 BILLION.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST TALK
ABOUT THAT NUMBER AND REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE PAY-FOR
PROVISION THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, THE FORMER MAJORITY
PARTY IN THE 111TH CONGRESS HAD
IN PLACE AT THE TIME THIS BILL
WAS PASSED.
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE PAID FOR.
SO YOU HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.
IN PASSING THIS BILL AND PAYING
FOR IT, MR. SPEAKER, SOME $570
BILLION WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE
CURRENT MEDICARE PROGRAM.
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM, WHICH
SERVES SOMETHING LIKE 47
MILLION OF OUR SENIORS, FIVE
MILLION OR SIX MILLION OF THEM
ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON
DISABILITY, THAT ARE COVERED
UNDER MEDICARE.
AND WE LITERALLY, TO HELP PAY
FOR THIS NEW ENTITLEMENT, THIS
NEW ENTITLEMENT HAS VERY LITTLE
TO DO WITH MEDICARE EXCEPT THAT
HALF OF THE MONEY, HALF OF THE
PAY-FOR IN THIS $900 PL WAS
TAKEN FROM -- IN THIS $900
BILLION WAS TAKEN FROM A
PROGRAM, MEDICARE, FOCUSED ON
OUR DISABLED AND ELDERLY,
PROVIDING THEM HEALTH CARE,
HALF OF THE MONEY WAS TAKEN OUT
OF THAT SYSTEM AND THE ACT
WARNES AN MEDICAL TRUSTEES TELL
US THAT OVER THE NEXT 75 YEARS
THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY, MR.
SPEAKER, OF MEDICARE IS
SOMETHING LIKE $35 TRILLION,
WITH A T.
$35 TRILLION.
YET WE TOOK THE MONEY BY
CUTTING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE,
SOMETHING LIKE $120 BILLION.
WE CUT MONEY OUT OF HOSPICE.
WE CUT MONEY OUT OF LONG-TERM
CARE.
SKILLED NURSING HOMES.
WE CUT MONEY OUT OF HOME HEALTH
CARE.
WE TAXED EVERYTHING THAT EVEN
LOOKED LIKE IT HAS ANYTHING TO
DO WITH HEALTH CARE, DURABLE
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLYING
OXYGEN FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE,
AND ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE
FROM CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULL
MO ANYWHERE DISEASE, EM--
OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE,
EMPHYSEMA IS A TERM WE USE A
LOT.
FOR THIS.
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. SPEAKER,
WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN
REGARD TO MEDICAL LIABILITY
REFORM.
SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY, IF WE
ENACTED, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
IN THIS BILL, BECAUSE MA CARE,
AS THE PRESIDENT DID PROMISE
THAT THERE WOULD BE, COULD SAVE
$200 BILLION A YEAR, ACCORDING
TO RAND CORPORATION AND OTHER
THINK TANKS, FROM THE OVERALL
COST OF HEALTH CARE, 1/6 OF OUR
ENTIRE ECONOMY, GROSS DOMESTIC
THAT'S HOW BIG THIS INDUSTRY
IS.
SO NOTHING, ESSENTIALLY NOTHING
IN THE BILL ABOUT MEDICAL
LIABILITY REFORM.
WHY DO I SAY THAT, MR. SPEAKER?
MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT
THE HIGH INSURANCE PREMIUMS
THAT DOCTORS HAVE TO PAY ON AN
ANNUAL BASIS SO THAT THEY CAN
PRACTICE AND BE PROTECTED FROM
LIABILITY IF SOMETHING GOES
WRONG.
PROTECTION.
AND THOSE HEALTH INSURANCE
PREMIUMS FOR THE HIGH-RISK
SPECIALTIES LIKE THE ONE THAT I
ENJOYED FOR 26 YEARS, OB/GYN,
NEUROSURGERY, MR. SPEAKER,
THINK ABOUT THAT DOCTOR, THE
TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER, THAT WAS
THERE IN THAT EMERGENCY ROOM
WHEN OUR COLLEAGUE,
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS WAS TAKEN THERE
LITERALLY NEAR DEATH.
AND I THINK DR. REED WAS HIS --
DR. RHEE WAS HIS NAME.
I LEARNED LATER HE WAS A
GRADUATE OF THE GREAT SCHOOL I
WENT TO GEORGIA TECH, THE
TECHNOLOGY.
DR. RHEE SPENT HIS CAREER AFTER
COMPLETING MEDICAL SCHOOL IN
THE MILITARY, SERVED HIS
COUNTRY FOR SOMETHING LIKE 22,
23 YEARS, AND HE HAPPENED TO BE
IN THAT EMERGENCY ROOM AS HEAD
OF THE TRAUMA CENTER WITH ALL
THAT SPECIALTY TRAINING AND ALL
THOSE YEARS OF TREATING OUR
WOUNDED WARRIORS IN MANY
CONFLICTS, I'M SURE AFGHANISTAN
AND IRAQ, MR. SPEAKER, IF HE
HAD NOT BEEN THERE OUR
COLLEAGUE, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS,
GOD BLESS HER, WE WOULD BE
TALKING ABOUT HER TODAY AS WE
WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT JOHN
ADLER.
OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE WHO DIED
TODAY FROM THE GREAT STATE OF
NEW JERSEY.
HE WAS THERE.
I FEAR, AS I TALK ABOUT THIS
NEW HEALTH CARE LAW, THERE'S
HARDLY ANY PROVISION IN THERE
THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR DOCTORS,
EVEN PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS,
THERE'S SOME ATTEMPT BUT WHEN
YOU TAKE ALL THE ADDITIONAL
MEDICAID ELIGIBLE PATIENTS,
INCREASING THE MINIMAL
ELIGIBILITY AT 138% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL YOU ADD
JUST MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL
PATIENTS TO BE SEEN AND
LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL COST
ON THE BACKS OF OUR STATES THAT
HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET,
UNLIKE HERE IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WHERE WE JUST KEEP
BORROWING MONEY AND WE'RE NOW
UP TO $14 TRILLION WORTH OF
DEBT.
SO WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.
IN REGARD TO THIS LAW THAT THE
C.B.O. SAYS COSTS $900 BILLION
OVER 10 YEARS.
I SAY, AND THIS POSTER POINTS
IT OUT, TRUE COST, THE LAST
BULLET POINT WITH THE RED DOT,
$2.2 TRILLION AND COUNTING.
BUT AS MS. PELOSI SAID, AND I
QUOTE HER IN THE THIRD BULLET
POINT HERE, WE HAVE TO PASS THE
BILL TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE BILL
PASSED AND CLEARLY WE'RE
FINDING OUT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY,
WHAT THE TRUE COST IS.
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO YIELD
ADDITIONAL TIME TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MY COLLEAGUE
BROUGHT UP THE COST OF THE
HEALTH CARE BILL.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO
TALK ABOUT AND INSERT WHAT I'VE
HEARD FROM THE HEALTH CARE
COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE
OF THIS DISCUSSION.
FOR MANY HOSPITALS WHO HAVE A
HIGH LEVEL OF INDIGENT
PATIENTS, THERE IS WHAT WAS
CALLED A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE
OF MONEY THAT WAS PAID TO THOSE
HOSPITALS TO HELP THEM OFFSET
THE COST OF TREATING FOLKS WHO
ARE ON MEDICAID AND WHO ARE NOT
ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN HEALTH
CARE COVERAGE THIS HEALTH CARE
BILL REPUFES THE
DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE AND
PHASES OUT THE PAYMENT TO
HOSPITALS SO THAT THEY CAN
AFFORD TO TREAT INDIGENT
PATIENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD
HEALTH CARE.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY
SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF THIS BILL
AND THIS LAW THAT WAS NOT
DISCUSSED AND HOW IT WILL
IMPACT AND HOW IT WILL HURT
HOSPITALS.
I THINK BEYOND THAT, WE NEED TO
TALK ABOUT SENIORS AND THE
CHOICES THAT THIS HEALTH CARE
BILL TAKES AWAY FROM SENIORS,
AGAIN, THAT WASN'T DISCUSSED.
THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAMS
AND ALL THE DISADVANTAGES THAT
THIS BILL WILL COST SENIORS.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM INTACT SO THOSE WHO NEED
ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS THE
SENIORS, HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD
HEALTH CARE AND THEIR COVERAGE
IS NOT HURT THIS BILL DOES HURT
SENIOR COVERAGE.
I YIELD BACK.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
AS I POINTED OUT IN THAT
$500-PLUS BILLION CUT OUT OF
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM TO HELP
PAY FOR THIS NEW ENTITLEMENT,
PATIENT PROTECTION AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, $20 BILLION OF THE
$500-PLUS BILLION WAS TAKEN
FROM THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
PROGRAM.
THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
ENROLLS ABOUT 20% TO 25% OF OUR
MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.
WHY SO MANY?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE 11
MILLION TO 12 MILLION SIGN UP
AND DECIDE THAT RATHER THAN THE
TRADITIONAL FEE FOR SERVICE AND
JUST PICK A DOCTOR OUT OF THE
YELLOW PAGES THAT ACCEPTS
MEDICARE, IT'S MORE LIKE A
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION
THAT EMPHASIZES WELLNESS, IT
EMPHASIZES PREVENTION, TESTS
THAT ARE NOT TYPICALLY COVERED
UNDER TRADITIONAL FEE FOR
SERVICE MEDICARE LIKE COLON
CANCER SCREENING, BREAST CANCER
SCREENING, MAMMOGRAMS FOR
WOMEN, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 40 AND 60.
PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING FOR
MEN, ANNUAL PHYSICAL
EXAMINATIONS, FOLLOWUP FROM A
NURSE PRACTITIONER WITHIN THE
DOCTOR'S OFFICE, MAYBE EVEN ON
A MONTHLY BASIS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE SENIOR IS TAKING THE
MEDICATION THAT WAS PRESCRIBED
BY THE PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
INCLUDED WITH MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE.
IT IS AN ADVANTAGE.
WITH VERY LITTLE ADDITIONAL
COST.
IN FACT, PEOPLE THAT, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT ARE UNDER THOSE
PROGRAMS DON'T HAVE TO BUY
SUPPLEMENTAL, TYPICALLY DON'T
HAVE TO BUY SUPPLEMENTAL
INSURANCE TO COVER CO-PAYS AND
DEDUCTIBLES.
AND HOSPITAL CARE AFTER YOU'VE
EXHAUSTED YOUR BENEFIT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY SO MANY
CHOOSE THAT.
AND YET WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
WE'VE STRIPPED -- WE'VE GUTTED
THAT PROGRAM SO BADLY THAT
THOSE 12 MILLION IT'S ESTIMATED
SEVEN MILLION OF THEM WILL LOSE
THAT COVERAGE UNDER MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE AND HAVE TO GET IT
UNDER TRADITIONAL MEDICARE AND
PAY $130 A MONTH EXTRA FOR THAT
SUPPLEMENTAL, WHETHER THEY GET
IT THROUGH A PLAN THAT'S
ENDORSED BY THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS
OR SOME HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANY, BUT THAT'S THE AVERAGE
COST, IT'S GOING TO BE AN
ADDITIONAL $130 A MONTH FOR
MOST FOLKS.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE COST, I
DO WANT TO SHIFT, MR. SPEAKER,
TO THE COST TO EMPLOYERS, AND
THIS NEXT SLIDE WHERE THE TITLE
SAYS OBAMA CARE HURTS WORKERS,
INCREASED COSTS, MAJORITY OF
EMPLOYERS ANTICIPATE HEALTH
HEALTH COSTS.
MOST SAY THEY PLAN TO PASS THE
INCREASES ON TO THEIR
EMPLOYERS.
88% PLAN TO DO THAT.
OR REDUCE HEALTH BENEFITS AND
PROGRAMS 74%.
THIS IDEA OF SETTING UP THESE
EXCHANGES THROUGHOUT THE 50
STATES AND TERRITORIES AND THAT
ONLY SIX MILLION PEOPLE WHO
HAVE EMPLOYER-PROVIDED HEALTH
INSURANCE CAN KEEP IT, THEY
WON'T NEED TO BE ON THE
EXCHANGES, MR. SPEAKER, THAT IS
ABSOLUTE POPPYCOOK.
IT WILL BE 130 MILLION PEOPLE
GETTING HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY
THEIR EMPLOYER END UP IN
EXCHANGES.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS COST THAT
WAS ESTIMATED BY THE C.B.O. OF
$900 BILLION WILL BE IN THE
TRILLIONS, BECAUSE WHEN ALL OF
THESE PEOPLE GET OUT OF
EMPLOYER-PROVIDED HEALTH CARE
INTO THESE EXCHANGES, THINK HOW
MANY OF THEM WILL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR A FEDERAL SUBSIDY TO HELP
THEM PAY FOR THAT INSURANCE,
BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS, SO-CALLED
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THAT
ANYBODY WITH AN INCOME OF LESS
THAN 400%, NOT 100%, NOT 200%,
400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL, WHICH IS CLOSE TO $90,000
FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, I THINK OF
MY FOUR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES OF TWO AND THREE AND
FOUR, AND I KNOW WHAT THEIR
INCOMESR YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL BE SUBSIDIZING
SO MANY PEOPLE THAT THE COST,
THE TRUE COSTS WILL BE
ASTRONOMICAL AND SOMETHING THAT
WE CANNOT AFFORD.
AND THAT'S WHY OUR
REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW YORK AND
OUR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE FROM
GEORGIA, SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT, WE
CAN'T DO THIS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS.
WE NEED TO REPEAL THIS LAW.
IT'S A BAD LAW.
I HAVE SAID BEFORE, MR. SPEAKER.
THAT IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, IT'S
THE WORST LAW THAT HAS EVER BEEN
PASSED IN THIS CONGRESS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FOLKS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE --
WELL, NOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE, BUT THE MORE LIBERAL
MEDIA WHO TOOK ME TO TASK FOR
THAT.
IT'S ONE OF THE WORST LAWS THAT
WAS EVER PASSED.
AND WE HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO
REPEAL IT.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID
IN THE 112TH CONGRESS WAS PASS
H.R. 2 TO REPEAL OBAMACARE.
WE SENT IT OVER TO THE SENATE,
AND THE SENATE, WHICH IS
CONTROLLED BY THE DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY AND LED BY THE SENATOR
FROM NEVADA, HARRY REID, JUST
SIMPLY, I GUESS PUT THAT IN FILE
13 AND H.R. 2 IS SORT OF DEAD IN
THE WATER OVER ON THE SENATE
SIDE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, IT IS
OUR OBLIGATION BECAUSE WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US,
OVER 60% OF THEM HERE A YEAR
AFTER PASSAGE OF THE BILL,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT MS. PELOSI
SAID THAT ONCE WE PASS IT, AND
FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT, THEY'LL
LIKE IT.
NO, THEY DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T
LIKE IT ONE DARN BIT BETTER.
WE MADE EVERY EFFORT AT REPEAL.
AND NOW WE'RE INTO PLAN B, MR.
SPEAKER.
PLAN B IS TO TRY AND DEFUND,
ESPECIALLY THE PARTS OF THE BILL
THAT ARE ON AUTOMATIC PILOT THAT
WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
AND I SAY WE, I DON'T MEAN THE
NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I MEAN
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, 100
SENATORS, 435 MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE,
FOR GOODNESS SAKES, WE OUGHT TO
HAVE CONTROL OVER THE SPENDING.
LET ME JUST -- THIS IS NOT A
POSTER, I DON'T HAVE A POSTER ON
THIS ONE, BUT TOMORROW, IN THE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE,
MR. SPEAKER, THE COMMITTEE ON
WHICH I AM PROUD TO SERVE ALONG
WITH SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER HOUSE
G.O.P. DOCTOR MEMBERS, WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE A MARKUP ON
SEVERAL BILLS TO CHANGE THIS
AUTOMATIC PILOT SPENDING ON
OBAMACARE AND PUT IT INTO THE
MORE TYPICAL DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING WHERE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS CAN SAY, WE WANT TO
SPEND THAT MONEY A AND IF WE
WANT TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND HOW
MUCH DO WE WANT TO SPEND AND WE
HAVE OVERSIGHT AND MAKE SURE
EVERY YEAR WE LOOK AT THE
PROGRAM AND IF IT'S NOT WORKING,
THEN DEFUND IT.
AND THESE BILLS, AND I'LL
MENTION THEM REAL QUICKLY, H.R.
1217, A BILL TO REPEAL THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND, $17.5 BILLION THAT THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES HAS CONTROL OVER, A
FUND OF MONEY THAT SHE CAN SPEND
IN ANY WAY SHE WANTS TO.
YOU THINK BACK TO THE ADS THAT
WE SAW ANDY GRIFFITH AS THE
PITCH MAN ON TWATION LAST YEAR
ABOUT THE -- ON TELEVISION LAST
YEAR ABOUT THE NEW LAW WAS GOING
TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE
MEDICARE.
HOW YOU DO THAT BY CUTTING OUT
OF A PROGRAM IS BEYOND THAT.
BUT THAT $17.5 BILLION IN THIS
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND CAN BE SPENT INDISCRIMINATE
NATURALLY BY A DECISION MADE BY
WHOEVER THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL BE, H.R.
1214,, H.R. 1213, $-- WE ARE
GOING TO GET CONTROL OVER THIS,
THOUGH AND WE ARE GOING TO
DEFUND ANYWHERE WE FEEL THAT IT
IS WASTED DUE POLITIC CATIVE
SPEC -- DID YOU POLITIC CATIVE
SPENDING THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE CAN ILL AFFORD.
I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE ON THESE SLIDES,
MR. SPEAKER.
I MENTIONED THE $575 BILLION
CUTS FROM THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.
I MENTIONED THE 7.4 MILLION
PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE THEIR
COVERAGE UNDER MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THAT $126
BILLION PAY-FOR.
I DIDN'T MENTION, THOUGH, ON
THIS SLIDE, THE THIRD BULLET
POINT.
MANY PHYSICIANS MAY STOP TAKING
MEDICARE PATIENTS BECAUSE
REIMBURSEMENTS WILL BE BELOW THE
COST OF PROVIDING THE CARE.
NOW, IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE PHIL
GINGREY FROM THE 11TH OF
GEORGIA?
MADE?
WELL, MAYBE I HAVE MADE IT, BUT
I'M QUOTING THE ACTUARY OF
MEDICARE, RICHARD FOSTER, WHO WE
HAD LAST WEEK AS A WITNESS
BEFORE THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF
THESE THINGS.
THIS BEARS REPEATING.
MANY PHYSICIANS MAY STOP TAKING
MEDICARE PATIENTS BECAUSE
REIMBURSEMENTS WILL BE BELOW THE
COST OF PROVIDING THE CARE.
RICHARD FOSTER, COMMITTEE ON
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES,
CHIEF ACTUARY.
TODAY, DOCTORS ARE REIMBURSED
UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM BY A
FORMULA, A VERY DIFFICULT -- YOU
TALK ABOUT CALCULUS, SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH RATE FORMULA, HOW DOCTORS
ARE REIMBURSED FOR PROVIDING
THEIR SERVICE, WHETHER THEIR
BRAIN POWER OR SURGICAL SKILLS
IS BEYOND ANYBODY'S
COMPREHENSION.
AND EVERY YEAR, FOR THE LAST SIX
OR SEVEN YEARS, WHEN YOU APPLY
THAT FORMULA TO THE NEXT YEAR'S
REIMBURSEMENT LEVEL, THERE'S A
CUT FROM THE LAST YEAR'S
REIMBURSEMENT, 2%, 3%, 4%, TO
THE POINT NOW, MR. SPEAKER, WHAT
WE HAVE DONE HERE IN THE
CONGRESS HAVE MITIGATED THOSE
CUTS AND SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO
ENACT THOSE CUTS BECAUSE THESE
DOCTORS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THE CARE, JUST AS MR.
FOSTER, THE ACTUARY SAID.
AND IF WE DON'T PUT A BAND-AID
ON THESE CUTS AND MITIGATE THEM,
THE DOCTORS WILL DROP OUT OF THE
PROGRAM AND I DON'T CARE HOW
MUCH YOU EXPAND ACCESS AND HAND
OUT MORE INSURANCE CARDS, IF
THERE ARE NO DOCTORS TO SEE YOU,
YOU AREN'T GOING TO HAVE CARE,
YOU DO NOT HAVE DECENT CARE OR
ANY CARE.
SO IN THIS BILL, IN THIS NEW
LAW, NOT ONLY IS THAT FORMULA
STILL THERE AND THE DOCTORS
FACING A 31% CUT IN THEIR
REIMBURSEMENT IF WE DON'T
MITIGATE IT ONCE AGAIN COME
DECEMBER 31 OF THIS YEAR, NOT
ONLY IS THAT ON THEIR BACKS, BUT
IN OBAMACARE, THIS IS A NEW
PROVISION CALLED I-PAD, NEW
BUREAUCRACY, INDEPENDENT PAYMENT
ADVISORY BOARD, THAT'S GOING TO
MORE.
WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE -- THE
ACTUARY IS RIGHT.
WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE DOCTORS
PROVIDING THE CARE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING
MONEY OUT OF THIS PROGRAM AND
PUTTING IT INTO AN ENTIRELY NEW
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, FOR THE
MOST PART, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SOME ENTITLEMENT WHEN YOU FORCE
THEM TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE, IN
MANY INSTANCES, WHEN THEY DON'T
NEED IT AND DON'T WANT IT.
I SEE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY THE
CO-CHAIRMAN, ALONG WITH MYSELF,
MY CLASSMATE FROM THE 108TH
CONGRESS, MEMBER FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, DR. TIM MURPHY, AND I
YIELD TO DR. MURPHY.
I THANK YOU FOR
YIELDING, DR. GINGREY.
ALL OF US IN THE DOCTORS'
CAUCUS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE TREATED PATIENTS AND WE
KNOW FULL WELL THE VALUE OF
QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
AND WE ALSO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN BUREAUCRACY GETS BETWEEN
THE PATIENT AND THE DOCTOR.
AND YOU FIND YOURSELF SPENDING
AS MUCH TIME WORRIED ABOUT
PAPERWORK AND FORMS AND WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO AND
SOMETIMES YOU ARE DEALING WITH
YOUR PATIENT.
THAT'S NOT GOOD HEALTH CARE AND
THAT CERTAINLY ISN'T GOOD HEALTH
CARE REFORM.
ALL OF US WHO ARE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS KNOW THAT THE
TREATMENT SHOULD NOT BE MORE
HARMFUL THAN THE ILLNESS ITSELF.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE HEALTH
CARE BILL THAT WAS PASSED, WHEN
YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PARTS OF
THIS AND REALIZE WHAT IT DOES TO
THE PATIENT, TO TAXES, TO
EMPLOYERS, TO HOSPITALS, TO
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, TO THE
COST OF DRUGS, YOU HAVE TO
CONCLUDE THAT WE DID NOT FIX THE
PROBLEM, WE FINANCED THE PROBLEM
AND IT IS GROWING AND GROWING.
DIRECTION.
LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES.
THIS BILL, THIS ACT, ACTUALLY
CREATES ABOUT 1,900-PLUS NEW
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH.
HAS 100 OR MORE MORE BOARDS,
PANELS AND COMMISSIONS TO WRITE
OUR REGULATIONS THAT WE DON'T
KNOW YET WHAT THEY ARE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT DESPITE THE
WORDS ABOUT THE GOAL, THE ACTUAL
MEANS TO GET THERE AND WHAT
HAPPENS ISN'T WHAT IS PURPORTED
TO BE DOING.
LET'S LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE
KEEP HEARING ABOUT 35 MILLION
AMERICANS WILL BE COVERED.
AND YET, WE ALSO HERE FROM
VARIOUS CONSULTING FIRMS THAT IT
WON'T BE 9 MILLION AMERICANS
THAT WILL LOSE THEIR HEALTH
INSURANCE, BUT TENS OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE THEIR
PRIVATE INSURANCE.
SO COVERING 35 MILLION, BUT
PERHAPS THE SAME OR DOUBLE THAT
LOSING THEIR INSURANCE DOESN'T
GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
WE ALSO HEARD THAT HEALTH CARE
COSTS WERE GOING TO GO DOWN.
I HAD SOMEONE FROM H.H.S. IN
PHILADELPHIA COME TO MY OFFICE
AND TOLD ME WITH A SMILE THAT IT
WASN'T IT GREAT THAT HEALTH CARE
COSTS WERE GOING UP 2% OR 3%.
I ASKED THIS PERSON IF THEY
BOTHERED TO TALK TO SOME
EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA BECAUSE A LOT OF
THEM TOLD ME THEIR COSTS WERE
GOING UP TO 40%.
OR TALKED TO SOME OF THE
FAMILIES TO FIND OUT THAT PLANS
WERE NOT GOING TO COVER CHILDREN
ANY MORE BECAUSE THE WAY
GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO DESIGN
THOSE.
OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO TREAT AND
HELP AND NOT TO STOP AT JUST
RHETORIC AND SAY, WE HAVE GOOD
INTENTIONS AND THEREFORE, WE
HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES, BUT GOOD
INTENTIONS DON'T MAKE GOOD
OUTCOMES.
WHERE WE COULD BE SPENDING MONEY
IS ON REAL REFORMS.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN
UNITED ON IS TO HELP COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS.
ONE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN
PITTSBURGH THAT I VISITED WITH
THE -- TREATS ABOUT 700,000
INDIVIDUALS THROUGH MORE 2.3
MILLION VISITS ANNUALLY.
THERE'S 45 IN 67 COUNTIES,
THEIR PATIENT BASE IS 68%
MEDICAID, AND UNINSURED AND 60%
OF PATIENTS AT OR BELOW THE
POVERTY LEVEL.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS HOW MUCH
LOWER IN COST THOSE CLINICS
THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA AND
QUITE FRANKLY THROUGHOUT THE
NATION CAN PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY
HEALTH CARE.
BUT WHAT WE'VE CREATED IS A
COUPLE OF BURDENS.
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT AS
PART OF THE HEALTH BILL, ONE
AMENDMENT CONGRESSMAN GENE
GREEN OF TEXAS AND I OFFERED,
WAS TO ALLOW PHYSICIANS TO
VOLUNTEER AT COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS.
IF WE WANT TO VOLUNTEER, WE
CAN'T DO IT.
IN ORDER TO VOLUNTEER, THEY
HAVE TO PAY THE MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE COSTS INSTEAD OF
HAVING THEM IN THE FEDERAL
TORTS CLAIM ACT, EMPLOYEES CAN
TO THAT, AND THAT ADDS TO THEIR
COST.
BUT THEY'RE SHORT 10% OR 15% OR
20% OF WHAT THEY NEED IN
PROVIDERS.
THEY ARE A TRIED AND TRUE
METHOD OF BRINGING TOGETHER
PEOPLE IN A WIDE RANGE,
OB/GYN'S FAMILY PRACTITIONERS,
PSYCHIATRISTS, THAT'S ONE THING
WE CAN BE DOING.
--
IF YOU COULD WRAP
UP, I WANT TO THANK YOU, DR.
MURPHY, MR. SPEAKER, THANK YOU
FOR THE TIME, I YIELD BACK.
I REFER TO OUR LAST POST IN
CONCLUSION, REPEEL AND REPLACE
OPAW MACARE.
-- REPEAL AND REPLACE
OBAMACARE.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM THE ***
ISLANDS, MRS. CHRISTENSEN, IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 6034I7BS AS THE
DEZ IG -- IS RECOGNIZED AS --
FOR 60 MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE
OF THE MINORITY LEADER.
I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS
I'VE JUST LISTENED TO.
WHAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR IS NOT
OBAMACARE.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY,
IT IS YOUR CARE.
AND IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE
REPEALED, DEFUNDED OR PICKED
APART PIECE BY PIECE, PRESIDENT
OBAMA WILL HAVE HIS HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE AND SO WILL MANY OF
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO
THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS NOT
SUPERVISE -- WAS NOT TO PROVIDE
CARE FOR US BUT TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE
CARE FOR YOU.
IT'S NOT OBAMACARE, IT'S YOUR
CARE.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO YIELD
TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM MARYLAND,
CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK
CONGRESSWOMAN KRIS ENSEN FOR
THE TIME AND JUST A REMINDER
THAT TODAY, ON TODAY, APRIL 4,
IS A SAD REMEMBRANCE IN SOME
WAYS OF THE A-- OF THE
ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. IN MEMPHIS,
TENNESSEE, 43 YEARS AGO.
IT'S SUCH AN IRONY WE'RE HERE
THIS EVENING AT THIS TIME
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
FOR WHICH DR. KING FOUGHT AND
STRUGGLED THAT ARE EVER-PRESENT
TODAY, BOTH IN OUR POLICY AND
OUR POLITICS AND IN OUR
NATIONAL CULTURE AND THROUGH
OUR SOCIAL FABRIC.
DURING THIS YEAR ALSO, WE
COMMEMORATE THE 40TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
REMEMBER THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL
BLACK CAUCUS WAS FOUNDED TO
TACKLE THE INJUSTICES THAT DR.
KING POINTED TO AND TO PROMOTE
EQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND
WITH AND THROUGH OUR UNITED
STATES POLITICAL PROCESS.
DR. KING DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO
THE THEN-UNCOMFORTABLE
CONVERSATIONS ON INJUSTICE
FACED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
DR. KING KNEW THAT TACKLING
DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED
STATES COULD NOT ONLY FOCUS ON
KNOCKING DOWN SOCIAL BARRIERS
BUT ALSO ECONOMIC BARRIERS THAT
HELD AFRICAN-AMERICAN WORKERS,
HELD LOW-WAGE WORKERS FROM
ECONOMIC WEALTH TO SUSTAIN
THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANT TO THANK DR. CHRISTENSEN
AND SO MANY OF MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES WHO JOIN ME IN THE
INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 198, RECOGNIZING THE
COORDINATED STRUGGLE OF WORKERS
DURING THE 1968 MEMPHIS
SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE TO
VOICE THEIR GRIEVANCES AND
REACH A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
FOR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE.
WHAT AN IRONY HERE IN 2011 THAT
THE BATTLES THAT DR. KING, FOR
WHICH DR. KING FOUGHT SO
VALIANTLY ARE TODAY'S BATTLES.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 198 HAS AMONG
IT TODAY 55 CO-SPONSORS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO MOVE THIS MEASURE TO
THE FLOOR BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT
REMEMBRANCE, COMMEMORATION OF
THE STRUGGLE OF THOSE
SANITATION WORKERS, THOSE CITY
WORKERS, THOSE MUNICIPAL
WORKERS AS THEY TRY TO
ORGANIZE.
AS DR. KING KNEW, ORGANIZED
LABOR IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR
DEMOCRACY AND THE ORGANIZATION
OF ORGANIZED LABOR HAVE ALTERED
FROM FAY SETS OF OUR NATION,
CHANGED OUR NATION FOR THE
ORGANIZED WORKERS WILL FOREVER
CHANGE THE LABOR DEBATE THROUGH
THEIR COLLECTIVE WILL.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN MEMPHIS
ON THOSE DAYS 43 YEARS AGO.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE
RECOGNIZED THE 100-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEADLY
TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY
FIRE WHICH USHERED IN AND
IMPROVED SAFETY FOR WORKERS.
DECADES LATER, THE DEATHS OF
TWO SANITATION WORKERS IN
MEMPHIS STARTED THE MOVEMENT TO
GIVE WORKERS BASE RIGHT --
BASIC RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE.
DR. KING BELIEVED THAT MOVEMENT
FOR A SAFE WORKPLACE WAS AKIN
TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THE MOTTO FOR THE SANITATION
WORKERS STRIKE WAS I AM A MAN,
SIGNIFYING THE WAY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN HAD BEEN
TREATED AND REFERRED TO AS
BOYS.
I AM A MAN, WHAT POWERFUL WORDS
URGING THE CITY TO GRANT THEM
THE FULL RIGHTS OF EQUALITY AND
JUSTICE GUARANTEED AROUND THE
PRINCIPLES OF OUR NATION.
DR. KING STOOD IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE STRIKERS AND THE BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL MEN AND
WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN
SOCIETY.
INDEED, THERE ARE MANY OF US IN
THIS CONGRESS WHO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE STRIKERS
AND WORKERS ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, MUNICIPAL WORKERS,
PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS, PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKERS WHO ARE FIGHTING
EVERY DAY FOR JUSTICE IN THEIR
WORKPLACES.
INDEED, 43 YEARS AGO IS THE
STRUGGLE OF TODAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH TO THE LEGACY
OF THOSE STRIKERS IN MEMPHIS
AND TO DR. KING, WE LIVE IN A
NATION WHERE WORKERS ALL OVER
THE UNITED STATES CAN INDEED
DEMAND JUSTICE AND FAIR WORKING
CONDITIONS.
THESE BASIC RIGHTS ALLOW MEN
WEALTH AND PURSUE THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
BUT IN RECENT DAYS, WE FACE A
VIRTUAL ASSAULT ON BASIC
WORKERS' RIGHTS, THINGS WE HAVE
KNOWN FOR GENERATIONS IN THIS
COUNTRY AND EVEN THOUGH THOSE
EVENTS ARE UNFOLDING, IN THE
JUT COME OF WHETHER UNIONS HAVE
THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING IN THAT STATE WILL
AFFECT UNION WORKERS ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY.
INDEED, THAT WAS THE FIGHT AND
STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE OF
SANITATION WORKERS.
I WANT TO REFER TO DR. KING'S
SPEECH IN MEMPHIS AT A RALLY ON
BEHALF OF SANITATION WORKERS.
HE SAID, QUOTE, WE'VE GOT TO
GIVE OURSELVES TO THIS STRUGGLE
UNTIL THE END.
NOTHING WOULD BE MORE TRAGIC
THAN TO STOP AT THIS POINT IN
MEMPHIS.
WE'VE GOT TO SEE IT THROUGH.
TODAY, WE HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH
IN STATES LIKE WISCONSIN,
INDIANA, OHIO AND ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY TO HELP PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES AND INDEED ALL
EMPLOYEES FIGHT AGAINST THE
INJUSTICES THEY FACE IN THEIR
WORKPLACE.
IN DR. KING'S LAST SPEECH, HE
HIGHLIGHTED THE PERILS AT WHICH
HE SOUGHT EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN.
IN HIS WORDS, AND I QUOTE, I
MAY NOT GET THERE WITH YOU, BUT
I WANT YOU TO KNOW TONIGHT THAT
WE AS A PEOPLE WILL GET TO THE
PROMISED LAND.
FOR WORKERS, WHAT IS THE
PROMISED LAND?
IS IT A PROMISED LAND OF A
WORKPLACE THAT'S SAFE, IT'S THE
PROMISED LAND IN WHICH ONE
MAKES WAGES THAT ALLOWS ONE TO
TAKE CARE OF ONE'S FAMILY AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS A WORKPLACE THAT ACTUALLY
RESPECTS WORKERS AS PARTNERS IN
THE SUCCESS OF A COMPANY AND A
WORKPLACE.
DR. KING AT THIS TIME, WHEN HE
ADDRESSED WORKERS IN MEMPHIS,
HAD ALREADY FACED THREATS
AGAINST HIS LIFE, INCLUDING A
STAB WOUND AT A BOOK SIGNING IN
NEW YORK CITY.
RECALLED THE DOCTORS SAYING HE
HAD -- HAD HE SNEEZED FOLLOWING
THE ATTACK HE WOULD HAVE DIED
BUT NOTED HE WAS GLAD THAT HE
DID NOT OR ELSE HE WOULD HAVE
MISSED THE PROGRESS IN THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
TODAY IS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR SO MANY OF US.
ON THE POINT OF INJUSTICE, DR.
KING SAID SO POIGNANTLY THE
ISSUE IS INJUSTICE.
THE ISSUE IS THE REFUSAL OF
MEMPHIS TO BE FAIR AND HONEST
IN ITS DEALINGS WITH ITS PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE
NOW WE'VE GOT TO KEEP ATTENTION
ON THAT AND JUST AS WE REMINDED
US 43 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE TO
KEEP THE ATTENTION ON OUR
WORKERS WHO STRUGGLE EVERY DAY.
DR. KING WAS DETERMINED TO BE
IN MEMPHIS WITH THOSE WORKERS
AND LET'S THINK ABOUT WHERE WE
ARE HERE 43 YEARS FROM THAT
FATED DAY IN APRIL.
OUR COUNTRY IS MOVING OUT OF
RECESSION, WE CONTINUE TO STAND
WITH WORKERS AND STAND WITH JOB
CREATION, SOME OF US DO, TO
REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF THE
RECESSION ON OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND TO
EMPOWER ALL AMERICANS, EMPOWER
WORKERS.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION
REMAINS FAR TOO HIGH AT 16.6%
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
NOW, THE OVERALL UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS FALLEN.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT I
THINK WE'RE -- DR. WERE DR.
KING ALIVE TODAY -- THAT WERE
DR. KING ALIVE TODAY, HE WOULD
SEE THE STRUGGLE.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN WAS 20.2%
IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, JUST
LAST MONTH.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WAS
11.7% IN MARCH.
PUT THESE NUMBERS UP AGAINST
NATIONAL NUMBERS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT AT 8.8%, AND WHILE
THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN, THANKS TO
THE BRILLIANT EFFORTS OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
OF THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS
DURING THE 111TH CONGRESS WHO
ACTUALLY BROUGHT US TO A POINT
WHERE WE PUT IN POLICIES THAT
COULD BRING DOWN THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THOSE
NUMBERS ARE STILL TROUBLING
AMONG MINORITY GROUPS.
BUT I WILL SAY, MR. SPEAKER,
THAT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE HAVE IS THAT IN THIS COUNTRY
WHERE WORKERS STRUGGLE EVERY
DAY, WE LOOK AT STAGNANT WAGES
THAT HAVE REALLY CRIPPLED THE
AMERICAN WORK FORCE, THE PUBLIC
SECTOR WORK FORCE, THE PRIVATE
SECTOR WORK FORCE IN THIS
CUPRY, THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT
TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING
JOBS.
YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN THIS WEEK
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY WE'RE
ON, 89 DAYS NOT HAVING CREATED
ANY JOBS TO ARREST -- TO
ADDRESS THOSE VERY CONCERNS
THAT DR. KING HAD JUST 43 YEARS
AGO.
JUST A REMINDER TO US ALL THAT
ACCORDING TO DR. KING, HE SAID
SO PROFOUNDLY ABOUT THE
AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT, AND I
QUOTE AGAIN DR. KING, AND I
WISH THAT I COULD DO IT WITH
HIS ELOQUENCE BUT I THINK IT'S
OF HIS WORDS.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT WAS THE
PRINCIPAL FORCE THAT
TRANSFORMED MISERY AND DESPAIR
INTO HOPE AND PROGRESS.
OUT OF ITS BOLD STRUGGLES,
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REFORM GAVE
BIRTH TO UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, OLD AGE PENSIONS,
GOVERNMENT RELIEF FOR THE
DESTITUTE AND ABOVE ALL NEW
WAGE LEVELS THAT MEANT NOT MERE
SURVIVAL BUT A TOLERABLE LIFE.
HE CONTINUED, THE CAPTAINS OF
INDUSTRY DID NOT LEAD THIS
TRANSFORMATION.
THEY RESISTED IT UNTIL THEY
WERE OVERCOME.
WHEN IN THE 1930'S, THE WAVE OF
UNION ORGANIZATION CRESTED OVER
THE NATION, IT CARRIED INTO
SECURE SHORES NOT ONLY ITSELF
BUT THE WHOLE SOCIETY.
DR. KING RECOGNIZED SO
PROFOUNDLY THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE STRUGGLE OF
WORKERS, THE STRUGGLE OF THE
SANITATION WORKERS IN MEMPHIS
TO THE STRUGGLES OF THE
AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT, AND IN
FACT TO ITS FOUNDATION.
WITH THAT, I RECOGNIZE THAT MY
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK, PAUL
TONKO, HAS JOINED US ON THE
FLOOR AND PERHAPS HE'D CARE TO
JOIN IN THIS DISCUSSION.
REPRESENTATIVE EDWARDS FOR
BRINGING US TOGETHER THIS
EVENING ON WHAT I THINK IS A
VERY TIMELY DISCUSSION.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH 43-YEAR-OLD
HISTORY RESONATES PROFOUNDLY
TODAY.
THE SAME BATTLES FOR WHICH
MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD FOUGHT,
THE ELOQUENCE WITH WHICH HE
RAISE AMERICA'S CONSCIOUSNESS
IS NEEDED TODAY, NOT ONLY IN
THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT BUT
ACROSS AMERICA TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE'S AN ATTACK, I
BELIEVE, ON WORKERS.
THERE'S A DIM UNION IGS OF THE
-- A -- A DIMINISHING OF THE
WORKING CLASS, WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE FACT THAT THE TOP 10% OF
AMERICANS EARN 50% OF OUR
NATIONAL INCOME, WE LOOK AT
STATS FROM 1950 THAT HAD THE
EXECUTIVE SALARIES SOMEWHERE IN
A 30-1 RATIO COMPARED TO THE
AMERICAN WORKER.
BY THE YEAR 2000, THAT HAD
CHANGED DRASTICALLY TO SOME
3500 OR 500-1.
IT'S OBVIOUS -- TO SOME 300 OR
500-1.
SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A GAP
BETWEEN THE HEADS OF COMPANIES
AND THE WORKERS WHO MAKE THINGS
WORK THAT ENABLES OUR ECONOMY
-- AND THE WORKERS HAVE BEEN
THREATENED AND BEEN AT RISK.
I THINK THE WHOLE MORAL FABRIC
THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING
EMBRACED, THE ENTIRE MISSION TO
RAISE AMERICA'S PEOPLE AS ONE
BY PROVIDING FOR THE DEGREENY
-- DIGNITY OF AMERICAN WORKERS
WAS A TREMENDOUSLY STRONG
STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF ALL
PEOPLE OF EVERY PERSUASION THAT
COULD PROVIDE FOR A STRONGER
AMERICA AND IT WAS THAT VISION
HE HAD AND SHARED IT SO
ELOQUENTLY AND HIS CLIMB TO THE
MOUNTAINTOP WAS BRINGING ALL OF
AMERICA'S CHILDREN ALONG.
SOCIETY.
AS WE WEAVE THE STRANDS OF
DIVERSITY INTO THE FABRIC OF
AMERICA, OUR MOSAIC, ENABLES US
TO BE A NATION THAT IS TRULY
UNIQUE IF WE COULD JUST EMPOWER
THE AMERICAN POWER.
I SEE THE ATTACK ON THE MIDDLE
CLASS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE, BEING SO FOCUSED ON A
DISMANTLING OF THE POWER OF THE
WORKING FAMILIES, OF THE TRUE
MIDDLE CLASS OF OUR SOCIETY,
THAT IS THE WRONG MOVE.
THAT IS ONE THAT WILL DEVASTATE
OUR ECONOMY AND ONE THAT IS NOT
UTILIZING THE INTELLECTUAL
CAPACITY.
CUTS TO OUR CHILDREN, THROUGH
HEAD START OR CLASSROOM
EXPERIENCE IS THE WORST OF MANY
BECAUSE IT IS OUR FUTURE WE ARE
PLAYING WITH.
WE AREN'T ALLOWING FOR THE
DIGNITY AGAIN WHICH MARTIN
LUTHER KING SPOKE AND THAT MAGIC
OF LEARNING IS DULLED BY THESE
PAINFUL CUTS.
SO WE HAVE TO GOT TO RESPOND AND
RESPOND WITH COMPASSION AND EYES
WIDE OPEN KNOWING THAT MESSAGE
OF 43 YEARS AGO AND THAT
POWERFUL STATEMENT MADE ABOUT
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR, THE
EVENING BEFORE HE WAS BOUGHT
DOWN, STILL SPEAKS TO EVERY ONE
OF US OR AT LEAST OUGHT TO SO WE
CAN SPEAK TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF
INCOME ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IN A
WAY THAT EMPOWERS THE
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
THAT IS THE MISSION THAT IS
STILL THERE.
SOME MANY OF US WERE INSPIRED BY
PRESIDENT KENNEDY, MARTIN LUTHER
KING, THEY WANT US TO BE
INVOLVED AND SAW GOVERNMENT AS A
NOBLE MISSION.
AND THAT TARNISHED ATMOSPHERE
THAT'S PREVAILING TODAY HAS
ALLOWED FOR MISREPRESENTATION OF
FACTS OR DENIAL OF DATA THAT
REALLY SHOULD GUIDE OUR PROCESS
HERE, AS MARTIN OFTEN CALLED FOR
FAIRNESS, EQUITABLE TREATMENT,
FOR JUSTICE, THOSE ARE THE
FACTORS THAT DRIVE THE DIGNITY.
SO IT IS A CHALLENGE TO US, BUT
WE ARE UP FOR THAT CHALLENGE AND
I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC IF WE
PROVIDE THE BOOST TO OUR
NATION'S WORKING FAMILIES AND
MIDDLE CLASS, WE ARE EMPOWERED.
SO THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE,
FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER ON A
VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
FLED FLED I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
TO MY COLLEAGUE.
I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR HELPING
TO ORGANIZE THIS HOUR AND OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK FOR
JOINING US.