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WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE IN
MAKING SURE THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE THE ACCESS TO
CAPITAL THAT WILL ALLOW THEY THEM TO
CONTINUE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA IS
MR. PRESIDENT, I
THANK THE SENATORS FOR THEIR
DISCUSSION OF THAT AMENDMENT OF
I HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE RECORD
SENATOR JOHNSON, WHO IS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BANKING
COMMITTEE, HIS OPPOSITION.
AND I WOULD LIKE BEFORE THE
SENATOR LEAVES JUST TO CORRECT
ONE THING FOR THE RECORD.
I, AS THE MANAGER OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS JOBS BILL, WE DID ASK
THE CREDIT UNIONS IF THEY WANTED
TO BE A PART OF THAT LENDING
PROGRAM, AND THEY DECLINED TO
SO I JUST WANTED FOR THE RECORD
TO BE CLEAR THAT WE DO -- I DO
KNOW -- AND LET ME JUST SPEAK
FOR MYSELF -- THAT CREDIT UNIONS
SERVE A VALUABLE ROLE IN OUR
NATION TODAY.
AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
BUT I DID WANT THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO TO KNOW THAT ACCORDING
TO THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE
BEEN GIVEN, THEY WERE ASKED IF
THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A
SMALL BUSINESS LENDING FUND
APPEARED THEY DECLINED.
THEY MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND LATER
AND WE COULD AMEND THE PROGRAM
LATER IF THEY SHOULD SO DECIDE.
I SEE THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA,
SO I YIELD BACK THE TIME.
I THINK HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON A
DIFFERENT AMENDMENT, BUT THAT'S
WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS
MORNING'S DISCUSSION IS B I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
I THANK THE
LOUISIANA.
THE 10
SENIOR SENATOR FROM GEORGIA IS
MR. PRESIDENT.
THERE IS A PENDING AMENDMENT BY
SENATOR HUTCHISON DEALING WITH
MEDICAL WAIVERS WHICH PROMPTS ME
TO COME TO THE FLOOR FOR JUST A
MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE
AS IT IS AFFECTED GEORGIA TODAY
AND IN PARTICULAR IT TALK ABOUT
IT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT OUR
GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE
HAVING TO DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF
THE MANDATES OF THE HEALTH CARE
BILL SIGNED ON MARCH 23 OF LAST
YEAR BY PRESIDENT OBAMA.
ON THE SIGNING OF THAT BILL
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
STATEMENTS I REFLECT BACK ON
THOSE DEBATES THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO REPEAT.
ONE WAS SPEAKER PELOSI SAYING
ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE HOUSE
PASSED THE HEALTH CARE TBHAIL
YOU HAD TO PASS IT TO FIND OUT
THAT WAS A FUNNY STATEMENT AT
THE TIME BUT IT BECAME PROPHETIC
TODAY AS WE'RE BEGINNING TO
DISCOVER THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF THE LEGISLATION
ON OUR STATES AND MEDICINE.
SECONDLY, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN
DECLARED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
IMPACT OF THE HEALTH CARE BILL.
THAT IS TURNING OUT TO BE HIGHER
COST, LESS BENEFIT AND MORE
REGULATION ON OUR STATES.
IN GEORGIA IN PARTICULAR, AND I
JAUNT TO BRING THESE TWO POINTS
UP TO TALK ABOUT WHY THIS WHOLE
ISSUE OF MEDICAL WAIVE
CERTIFICATES SO IMPORTANT, OUR
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER HAS
SUBMITTED TO C.M.S. SOMETHING ON
THE MEDICAL COST WAIVER RULE
TAKING IT UP TO 85%.
THAT MANDATE IN THE HEALTH CARE
BILL IS GOING TO FORCE NOT
BETTER COVERAGE BUT LESS
COVERAGE OF OUR INSURANCE
COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY'LL LEAVE
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MEET T IT IS
THE INTENTION TO REGULATE THE
AMOUNT OF BENEFITS AS PAID.
THE APPLICATION MEANS COMPANIES
THAT CAN'T MEET IT BY THE TIME
STATE.
SO INSTEAD YOU HAVE LESS OF WHAT
WAS PROMISED RATHER THAN MORE.
P YOU HAVE LESS AVAILABLE CHOICE
AND MORE PEOPLE FORCED THROUGH A
SINGLE-PAIR SYSTEM AND THE
GOVERNMENT ORNTING THROUGH AN
EXCHANGE WHICH PROMPTS ME TO THE
SECOND ISSUE.
OUR NEWLY ELECTED GOVERNOR,
GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL IS TRYING
TO SET UP A MANDATE ON THE STATE
EXCHANGE.
THE PUBLIC WANTS NO PART OF THE
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE BILL AND
WANTS TO WAIT ON A SUPREME COURT
RULING ON JUDGE VINSON'S RULING
IN FLORIDA.
THESE MEDICAL WAIVERS ARE
STATES ARE HAVING TO ASK FOR
THEM BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF
THE OVERALL HEALTH CARE BILL
THAT WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 23 OF
AND IF SOME RELIEF DOESN'T COME,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
CATACLYSMIC EVENTS.
ONE WILL BE THE IMPACT ON
EMPLOYEES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
WHICH IS WHAT THIS BILL IS ALL
ABOUT.
AND I RAN A SMALL BUSINESS.
AND I HAD INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS FOR WHOM UNDER ERISA
YOU CANNOT BUY HEALTH INSURANCE.
I TRIED MY BEST TO GET THIS ***
AND PRESIDENT TO APPROVE AN
ASSOCIATE SYSTEM, FORM LARGE
RISK POOLS SO THEY COULD COMPETE
FOR INSURANCE.
THAT WAS REJECTED INSTEAD FOR AN
EXCHANGE AND FOR A SIMPLE SYSTEM
THAT SAYS SMALL BUSINESS MUST
PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO
THEIR EMPLOYEES BUT IF THEY
DON'T PROVIDE IT, THEY WILL PAY
A MODEST FINE THAT'S MUCH LESS
THAN THE COST OF THE INSURANCE.
THAT ONE STATEMENT FORCES PEOPLE
SM SMALL BUSINESS TO LEAVE
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FROM AN
INSURANCE CORVEER WHO GETS IT
THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER AND
INSTEAD THEY HAVE TO BE FORCED
TO GO TO A GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE
WHERE CHOICE IS LIMITED AND
MANDATES ARE MANY.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF THE
SMALL BUSINESS AND THE RANKING
MEMBER OF THE SMALL BUSINESS FOR
THE EFFORT THEY'RE MAKING ON
THIS BISM BUT ALSO COMMEND
SENATOR HUTCHISON ON THE VOLUME
OF THE WAIVERS BEING FILED.
WHY ARE THEY BEING FILED?
THEY ARE AN EARLY WARNING OF
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US IF
WE DON'T TAKE THE OBAMA CARE
LEGISLATION OR START OVER AND
BUILD A SYSTEM THAT WORKS WHERE
WE HAVE THE PRIVATE DELIVERY OF
HEALTH CARE AND A MINIMUM OF
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.
ER I THANK VERY MUCH THE
CHAIRMAN FOR GIVING ME THE TIME
TO SPEEFNLGT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
CHAIRMAN.
I THANK THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA
FOR COMING TO THE FLOOR AND
PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW ON THE
AMENDMENT THAT HE SPOKE ON.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE THAT DEBATE
AND IN FACT DEBATE HEALTH CARE
POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE
LAST TWO YEARS AND WHILE
APPRECIATE HIS VIEWS, I'M HOPING
THAT WE COULD KEEP THE DEBATE
VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC,
IF POSSIBLE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
AMENDMENT OF SENATOR HUTCHISON'S
AND THE AMENDMENT THAT SENATOR
ISAKSON SUPPORTS DOES AFFECT
SMALL BUSINESS.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
COMMENTS AS WE GO FORWARD.
I WANTED, MR. PRESIDENT, AS WE
WAIT TO MOVE TO THE C.R., WHICH
UNDER UNANIMOUS CONSENT I THINK
WE'RE MOVING TO IN A FEW
MOMENTS, SO WE'LL BE OFF OF THE
DEBATE ON THIS BILL, JUST TO
SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD SOME OF
THE DATA ASSOCIATED WITH JOB
CREATION.
I KNOW THAT SENATOR SNOWE IS
VERY, VERY SINCERE IN HER
COMMENTS ABOUT THE LACK OF JOB
CREATION IN THE COUNTRY AND I
WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH
EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID IN
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY CONCERNING.
THAT'S WHY SHE AND I HAVE SPENT
SO MUCH TIME ON THE COMMITTEE
TRYING TO LOOK AT THE ARRAY OF
BILLS THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST IN
OUR JURISDICTION TO SEE WHAT WE
OUTLOOK.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I
THINK WE HAVE IN LARGE MEASURE
CONTRIBUTED IN A POSITIVE WAY.
BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD IN TERMS
OF JOB NUMBERS, BECAUSE DWHROOT
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS --
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS
ADMINISTRATION GET THE KIND OF
CREDIT THAT THEY DESERVE AND
FRANKLY THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP SOMETIMES DOESN'T GET
THE CREDIT THAT IT DESERVES FOR
TURNING AROUND A LITERALLY
DESPERATE SITUATION.
I'M GOING TO SUBMIT THESE
RECORDS FORRECORDNUMBERS FOR THE RECORD.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
I WANT TO THROW A FEW NUMBERS
OUT AND THE I'M SORRY I DON'T
HAVE THIS CHART CLEARLY PRODUCED
AT THIS POINT.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE A COUPLE
OF NUMBERS.
IN JANUARY OF 2009, THIS COUNTRY
LOST 820,000 JOBS IN THAT ONE
MONTH.
IN THAT ONE MONTH, WE LOST MORE
JOBS ACCORDING TO THIS DOCUMENT
THAT I'M LOOKING AT THAN ANY
MONTH PROBABLY IN THE LAST, I
DON'T KNOW, LOST 10 OR 15 YEARS.
I'LL GOING TO GO BACK TO CHECK.
CAN I HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE?
OBJECTION.
SENATOR INOUYE.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR TWO OR
THREE MINUTES UNTIL HE GETS TO
THAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF
JOB LOSS IN YEARS.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW
MANY WHEN I FIND OUT EXACTLY.
THE POINT IS PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS
NOT THE PRESIDENT IN 2000 -- IN
JANUARY OF 2009.
OR HE WAS JUST SWORN IN IN 2009.
HE WAS ELECTED IN 2008.
SO THE JOB LOSSES OF THE YEAR
BEFORE WHICH STARTED FEBRUARY OF
2008, WHICH WAS THE BEGINNING OF
THE RECESSION, BEFORE PRESIDENT
OBAMA WAS SWORN IN, WE LOST
83,000 JOBS.
IN MARCH 72,000.
IN APRIL, 185,000.
IN MAY 230,000.
IN JULY, 238,000.
IN AUGUST 267,000.
IN SEPTEMBER 434,000.
IN OCTOBER 509,000.
IN NOVEMBER 802,000.
IN DECEMBER 619,000.
IN JANUARY, THE MONTH HE GOT
SWORN IN, WE LOST 820,000.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE
BUT TO BLAME A PRESIDENT WHO
WASN'T EVEN IN OFFICE FOR THIS
RECESSION IS WRONG AND IT'S NOT
FAIR.
AND THAT OFTEN HAPPENS.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN FROM OUR
RANKING MEMBER, BUT IT DOES
HAPPEN FROM OTHERS AROUND HERE.
IN ADDITION, THAT TERRIBLE LOSS
OF JOBS CONTINUED AS WALL STREET
COLLAPSED, FAT CATS RAN OFF WITH
THE MONEY, PEOPLE'S SOCIAL
SECURITY AND 401(K)S -- WELL
401(K)S, NOT SOCIAL SECURITY,
THANK GOODNESS, BUT 401(K)S
PUBLIC PENSION FUNDS THAT PEOPLE
ARE SCREAMING ABOUT THAT
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THEM.
YES, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
WRONG WITH THEM.
THE WALL STREET COLLAPSE OF
GREED UNPARALLELED MAYBE IN THE
HISTORY OF THIS NATION SUNK SO
MANY OF OUR PUBLIC PENSION
FUNDS, NOT THE FAULT NECESSARILY
OF GOVERNORS OR LEGISLATORS OR
EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES -- AND
THERE ARE SOME UNDERFINDING
I WOULD SAY TREASURER.
THE BIG CULPRIT WAS THE COLLAPSE
OF THE MARKET WHICH STARTED
BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION.
THESE NUMBERS CONTINUE.
500, 300.
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR TO
IS IT STARTING TO REVERSE?
YES MA'AM, IT IS STARTING TO
IN MARCH, A PLUS OF 192.
IN APRIL A PLUS OF 277.
IN MAY A PLUS OF 458.
IN OCTOBER A PLUS OF 171.
AND I COULD GO ON.
THE POINT IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT ALL GLOOM AND DOOM.
WORKING.
WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING
THAT'S WHY SENATOR SNOWE AND I
ARE ON THE FLOOR -- AND I SEE
SENATOR INOUYE COMING AND IT'S
TIME TO GO TO THE C.R.
BUT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER THE
WAY OUR COMMITTEE HAS HAD A
TRADITION OF WORKING TO TRY TO
TAKE A BILL HERE, A BILL THERE,
PUTTING GOOD PROGRAMS IN PLACE,
PUTTING NEW IDEAS, THINKING
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX BECAUSE WE
ALL HAVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN
TO GET THIS ECONOMY MOVING
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE
RECORD, TO SUBMIT THIS DATA.
I SEE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
AND I BELIEVE AT THIS TIME,
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WILL YIELD
THE FLOOR AND PROCEED TO THE
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE
WILL PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RESOLUTION
48 WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 20
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 488
MAKING FURTHER FISCAL
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2011
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER THERE WILL BE
THREE HOURS OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE LEADERS OR
THEIR DESIGNEES.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM HAWAII.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
RISE TO DISCUSS HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 48, A SHORT-TERM
CONTINUING RESOLUTION DESIGNED
TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN
THROUGH APRIL 8.
IF THE SENATE PASSES THE
RESOLUTION, IT WILL BE THE
SIXTH -- AND I REPEAT -- SIXTH
SHORT-TERM C.R. THIS YEAR.
WITH ITS PASSAGE, WE'LL BE MORE
THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL
YEAR AND WE'RE STILL OPERATING
WITHOUT A BUDGET.
H.J. RES. 48 WOULD FUND THE
GOVERNMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL
THREE WEEKS AND WOULD REDUCE THE
RATE OF OPERATIONS FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY AN
ADDITIONAL $6 BILLION.
IF ADOPTED, WE WOULD BE
OPERATING THE GOVERNMENT AT A
RATE THAT IS $51 BILLION BELOW
THE AMOUNT REQUESTED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS FISCAL
YEAR.
AT THIS LEVEL OUR SPENDING ON
SECURITY PROGRAMS WILL BE $30
BILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST AND $21 BILLION LOWER ON
DOMESTIC SPENDING.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD ALSO
POINT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT
THIS IS $31 BILLION BELOW THE
SO-CALLED LEVEL WHICH EVERY
MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
VOTED FOR LAST YEAR.
THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN THIS
SHORT-TERM C.R. IS THE LEVEL
PROPOSED BY THE PRESIDENT AS A
COMPROMISE WITH THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS, AND IT'S THE SAME
AMOUNT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN AN
AMENDMENT WHICH I OFFERED AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE HOUSE C.R.
LAST WEEK.
BY AGREEING TO THIS LEVEL, THE
SENATE WILL BE $6 BILLION LOWER
THAN CURRENT SPENDING LEVELS BUT
NO MORE THAN THE PRESIDENT HAS
RECOMMENDED.
WHILE SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE COMPLAINED THAT WE SIMPLY
HAVE NOT CUT ENOUGH GOVERNMENT
SPENDING, MOST OF OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND MANY
MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
ARE BEGINNING TO THINK THAT
WE'VE ALREADY CUT TOO MUCH.
I BELIEVE THE DISPARITY IN VIEWS
CAN BE PARTIALLY EXPLAINED BY
THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED BELOW.
RECENTLY THE CENTER ON BUDGET
AND POLICY PRIORITIES RELEASED A
REPORT WHICH NOTES THAT IN
COMPARING APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING
LEVELS, THE APPROPRIATE
MEASUREMENT SHOULD BE EXPRESSED
IN INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS
NORMALLY REFERRED TO AS REAL
THE CENTER'S POINT IS THAT THE
COST OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
INCREASES EACH YEAR BY
INFLATION.
ONE CANNOT IGNORE THE FACT THAT
IF THE PRICE OF GOODS AND
SERVICES RISE BY 1%, 2% OR 3%,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S COST IN
PROVIDING THESE GOODS AND
SERVICES WILL ALSO INCREASE BY
THIS RATE.
WHEN WE FAIL TO CONSIDER THE
EFFECT OF INFLATION ON FEDERAL
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN
VIEWING SPENDING RATES, WE ARE
NOT ACCURATELY REFLECTING WHAT
IS, WHAT IT COSTS TO RUN THE
GOVERNMENT.
IF UTILITY PRICES ARE INCREASING
BY 5% AND IF WE DON'T BUDGET THE
EXTRA AMOUNT, WE ARE FORCING TO
CUT OTHER PROGRAMS TO PAY FOR
THE FACT OF LIFE INCREASE IN OUR
UTILITY BILLS.
LONGEVITY INCREASES PAID TO
MILITARY PAY RAISES ARE ALSO
FACTS OF LIFE WE CANNOT IGNORE.
THESE BILLS HAVE TO BE PAID EVEN
IF WE AREN'T BUDGETING FOR THE
INCREASED COST.
AND IF WE ARE NOT BASING OUR
FUNDING DECISIONS ON REAL COSTS
ADJUSTED BY INFLATION, WE'RE IN
FACT FORCING GOVERNMENT TO CUT
THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES EVEN
WHEN IT RECEIVES THE SAME
YEAR.
THIS ISN'T A POLITICAL TALKING
IT IS PURE AND SIMPLE
MATHEMATICS.
THE REPORT FROM THE CENTER ON
BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITY
MEASURES THE IMPACT OF INFLATION
ON THE COST OF GOVERNMENT.
BY ITS CALCULATION USING THE
C.B.O. BASELINE, REAL SPENDING
APPROVED FOR FY 2011 TO DATE IS
$34 BILLION LOWER THAN WAS
PROVIDED IN FY 2010.
A CUT OF $18 BILLION IN REAL
SECURITY SPENDING AND $16
BILLION IN DOMESTIC SPENDING.
WITH THIS AMENDMENT, WE'LL BE
CUTTING DOMESTIC SPENDING BY
ANOTHER $6 BILLION, AND IN
NORMAL TERMS BUT MORE THAN IN
INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS.
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CHASTISED
FOR ONLY CUTTING $10 BILLION
FROM FY 2010.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD NOTE
THAT EVEN IN THAT COMPARISON
WHICH FAILS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
MANY FACTOR-OF-LIFE INCREASES,
WE SHOULD ALL UNDERSTAND THAT
DOMESTIC SPENDING IS BEING CUT
BY MORE THAN $14 BILLION WHILE
SECURITY SPENDING IS SLATED TO
FURTHERMORE, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
ARE NOW HALFWAY THROUGH THE
FISCAL YEAR.
AGENCIES HAVE SPENT AN AVERAGE
OF 50% OF THEIR FUNDS.
EACH DOLLAR WE REDUCE AT THIS
TIME HAS THE EFFECT OF DOUBLING
THE CUT MADE IN PROGRAMS FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR.
OUR SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTIES THAT
THIS LEVEL OF SPENDING WILL
CREATE FOR THE PROGRAMS.
ACCORDINGLY, MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE APPROPRIATIONS
ENOUGH.
WHILE THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR
WITH THE DETAILS OF BUDGETING
COMPLAIN THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO CUT MORE SPENDING.
I WOULD ASK THE SENATE TO
CONSIDER ONE MORE MEASUREMENT.
FOR DOMESTIC DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING, THE TOTAL AVAILABLE
FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AFTER THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL WILL BE
$400 BILLION.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
IN FY 2010, WE HAD $413.6
BILLION FOR THESE PURPOSES.
FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE FIRST HALF
OF THIS YEAR WE'RE SPENDING
FUNDS AT THE RATE OF NEARLY $410
BILLION.
AND SINCE THE YEAR IS HALFWAY
OVER, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE
$410 BILLION, OR $205 BILLION,
HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED.
IN GENERAL, THAT MEANS WE ONLY
HAVE APPROXIMATELY $195 BILLION
TO COVER THE COST OF ALL THE
DOMESTIC AGENCIES FOR THE REST
OF THE YEAR.
THIS RATE OF SPENDING FOR THE
REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IS
$23.6 BILLION BELOW THE RATE WE
SPENT LAST YEAR.
AND WHEN WE COMPOUND THIS,
RECOGNIZING THAT INFLATION HAS
INCREASED THE COST OF OPERATIONS
FOR DOMESTIC PROGRAMS BY $16
BILLION A YEAR, WE SEE THAT
EFFECTIVELY FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE YEAR WE'LL BE ASKING OUR
AGENCIES TO OPERATE AT A RATE OF
$39.6 BILLION BELOW WHAT WE GAVE
THEM FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF GOODS
LAST YEAR.
IN REAL TERMS, EVEN UNDER THIS
SHORT-TERM C.R., WE WILL BE
REQUIRING OUR AGENCIES TO
OBSERVE -- ABSOLVE MORE THAN 9%
REDUCTION IN SPENDING COMPARED
TO A YEAR AGO.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AGREEING TO A
CUT OF THIS SIZE THIS LATE IN
THE FISCAL YEAR WILL BE MOST
CHALLENGING FOR MANAGEMENT AND
AGENCIES TO MANAGE.
I BELIEVE OUR SUBCOMMITTEE
CHAIRMEN RECOGNIZE THIS REALITY,
AND IT IS WHY MOST OF THEM ARE
CONCERNED THAT THE LEVEL OF CUTS
WE ARE AGREEING TO IS ALREADY
DEEPER THAN IT IS PRUDENT.
FINALLY, I WANT TO POINT OUT TO
EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING
EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE
ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IN
TRYING TO CONCLUDE OUR
NEGOTIATIONS ON SPENDING FOR
THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT $3.7
TRILLION IN SPENDING AND
BILLIONS IN UNNEEDED FUNDS ARE
NOT DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF
THIS C.R.
WHAT THE DECISION COMES DOWN TO
IS THIS: AFTER THIS RESOLUTION
PASSES, OUR DOMESTIC AGENCIES
HAVE APPROXIMATELY $195
BILLION TO MEET ALL THEIR NEEDS
FOR THEIR FISCAL YEAR.
THIS WILL COVER THE SALARIES OF
PEOPLE WHO MONITOR OUR FOOD
SUPPLIES, OF OUR AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS WHO KEEP U.S.
AIRSPACE SAFE, OUR CUSTOMS
OFFICIALS AND U.S. MARSHALS WHO
MONITOR OUR BORDERS.
IT INCLUDES THE COST OF ALL OUR
PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
COLLEGE, OF THOSE WHO ENSURE
THAT OUR SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS ARE PAID, AND THOUSANDS
OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE REDUCED THEIR FUNDING
EFFECTIVELY BY 10%.
HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS $195
BILLION WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY
BUDGET?
HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS SPENDING
CAN WE REALLY AFFORD TO CUT
BEFORE WE ARE REQUIRED TO LAY
OFF FOOD INSPECTORS AND SHUT
DOWN OUR MEAT PLANTS?
HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE CUT BEFORE
WE HAVE NO FUNDS TO PAY
EMPLOYEES WHO MONITOR OUR
BORDERS AND PORTS?
HOW MUCH MORE BEFORE WE HAVE TO
CANCEL THE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS
AND BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS, SEWERS
AND TRANSIT PROJECTS AND THROW
THOUSANDS OF PRIVATE-SECTOR
WORKERS ON THE STREET?
MADAM PRESIDENT, IT SHOULDN'T BE
FORGOTTEN THAT WHEN WE FORCE
EITHER CIVIL SERVANTS OR
PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS OUT OF
THEIR JOBS, THEY BOTH HEAD TO
THE UNEMPLOYMENT ROLLS.
THEY WON'T BE PAYING TAXES ANY
LONGER BUT THEY WILL TAX ALREADY
STRETCHED SOCIAL SERVICES.
SURELY WE CAN AGREE CUTTING
JOBS, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE,
IS NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH TO
ASSIST OUR SLOWLY REBOUNDING
ECONOMY.
THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF HOW
MUCH WE CAN OR SHOULD SAVE
FOR -- FROM A $3.7 TRILLION
BUDGET BUT A QUESTION OF HOW
MUCH MORE OUR COLLEAGUES THINK
WE SHOULD CUT FROM THE
$195 BILLION WE HAVE LEFT TO PAY
FOR OUR DOMESTIC AGENCIES WHEN
WE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE ASKING
THE AGENCIES TO CUT ANOTHER 10%.
-- 10% OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IN THE COMING
DAYS, AS WE TRY TO RESOLVE OUR
DIFFERENCES ON DOMESTIC SPENDING
FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR
YEAR, I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
KEEP SOME OF THESE POINTS IN
MIND.
MADAM PRESIDENT, HAVING SAID
THAT, I INTEND TO SUPPORT THE
C.R. BECAUSE IT WILL PROVIDE THE
FUNDING LEVEL THAT THE WHITE
HOUSE HAS ENDORSED AND BECAUSE
IF IT FAILS, WE WOULD LIKELY
HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT
AND THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES, THOSE WHO THINK WE
HAVE CUT TOO MUCH AND THOSE WHO
DON'T, TO SUPPORT THIS
THREE-WEEK EXTENSION TO ALLOW
OUR COLLEAGUES ADDITIONAL TIME
TO TRY AND REACH AN OVERALL
COMPROMISE ON THIS DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING FOR THE REST OF THE
FISCAL YEAR.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM HAWAII.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
RESCINDED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
AND I ASK CONSENT
THAT TIME BE ALLOCATED ON BOTH
SIDES ACCORDINGLY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL CALL
THE INOUYE: INOUYE: --I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
ASK CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL
BE LIFTED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
BUSINESS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
YEAR AGO BEFORE WE PASSED THE
HEALTH CARE BILL THAT EVERYBODY
TESTIFIED THAT MEDICARE WAS SET
TO GO INTO BANKRUPTCY IN SEVEN
YEARS AND YOU REMEMBER BACK
THEN, JUST A YEAR AGO, MEDICARE
PAID DOCTORS WHEN SENIORS GOT
SICK AND MEDICARE WAS FOCUSED ON
THE QUANTITY OF CARE INSTEAD OF
THE QUALITY OF CARE?
AND BACK THEN, MEDICARE PAID
HOSPITALS MORE IF A PATIENT GOT
AN INFECTION THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN AVOIDED IN THE HOSPITAL AND
THEY PAID HOSPITALS LESS IF THEY
AVOIDED THAT INFECTION IN THE
FIRST PLACE BECAUSE MEDICARE,
WHATEVER THE COST WAS, MEDICARE
PAID IT.
AND REMEMBER BACK THEN THAT
DOCTORS WOULD PERFORM THE SAME
TEST OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE
SAME PATIENT BECAUSE THEY HADN'T
BEEN ENCOURAGED IN A LAW TO WORK
TOGETHER AND TO SHARE RESULTS?
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHY A
YEAR AGO WE PASSED THE HEALTH
CARE REFORM ACT AND NOW THAT ACT
EXTENDS THE LIFE OF MEDICARE FOR
12 MORE YEARS, UNTIL AT LEAST
THE YEAR 2029.
AND NOW AS A CHANGE IN THAT LAW,
MEDICARE DOESN'T JUST CARE FOR
YOU WHEN YOU GET SICK, IT'S A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM NOW THE SENIOR CITIZENS
RECEIVE A ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT
AS PART OF THE NEW MEDICARE LAW.
THEY CAN RECEIVE SCREENINGS AND
TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE OR PREVENT
CONDITIONS, LIKE IF THEY HAVE
DIABETES OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL THEY GET SICK.
AND IN MY STATE OF FLORIDA,
THAT'S A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS,
THAT'S 3.2 MILLION SENIOR
CITIZENS.
ANOTHER THING THAT THIS HEALTH
REFORM LAW DOES IS IT INCREASES
PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS FOR
PROVIDING HIGHER-QUALITY CARE.
IT GIVES HOSPITALS THE
INCENTIVES TO PREVENT AVOIDABLE
ILLNESSES.
AND THE LAW IMPROVES THE QUALITY
BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.
MY OPENING STATEMENT WAS THAT
HOSPITALS WERE PAID MORE IF YOU
GOT AN INFECTION IN THE HOSPITAL
HOSPITAL.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO PAY THE
HOSPITAL LESS.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE HOSPITAL
AN INCENTIVE NOT TO HAVE THAT
KIND OF HOSPITAL THAT INCREASES
THE INFECTIONS WHILE THE PATIENT
IS THERE.
WELL, NOW DOCTORS UNDER THE NEW
LAW CAN TRACK THE PATIENT CARE.
THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS
ARE SEEING THE RIGHT SPECIALIST
AND THEY CAN HELP SPECIALISTS
PROCEDURES.
THERE'S A PART THAT IS JUST
BEING IMPLEMENTED NOW IN THE
HEALTH CARE BILL CALLED "THE
ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION."
COMBINED WITH THAT WILL BE
ELECTRONIC RECORDS.
SO INSTEAD OF MEDICARE
BENEFICIARY, THE SENIOR CITIZEN
GOING TO THIS SPECIALIST, THIS
SPECIALIST, THIS SPECIALIST, AND
THIS SPECIALIST AND ALL OF THEM
GETTING MEDICARE FEE-FOR-SERVICE
FEE-FOR-SERVICE, NOW THEY'RE
GOING TO BE UNDER THE UMBRELLA
OF AN ACCOUNTABLE CARE
ORGANIZATION THAT MAY BE IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, IT MAY BE PART
OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IN AN
INSURANCE COMPANY THAT'S
MANAGING THE CASE FOR THE
MEDICARE RECIPIENT.
WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S GOING TO
INTEGRATE WITH ELECTRONIC
RECORDS WITH THE ENHANCEMENT OF
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS SO THAT
ALL THAT DUPLICATION IS NOT DONE
AND SO THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING
TO EVERYBODY THROUGH THE
ELECTRONIC RECORDS.
AND SO THESE DOCTORS NOW ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK
OF PATIENT CARE, TO SEE THE
RIGHT SPECIALIST, AND TO HELP
THE SPECIALIST AVOID REPEATING
THE TEST.
NOW, YOU REMEMBER A YEAR AGO,
MADAM PRESIDENT, WHEN THE SENIOR
CITIZENS HAD TO PAY A LOT FOR
THEIR SENIOR CITIZEN
PRESCRIPTIONS.
UNDER MEDICARE, THAT MEANT THAT
SOMETIMES OUR SENIORS DIDN'T GET
THE TREATMENT THAT THEY WANTED
IT.
REMEMBER BACK THEN THAT MEDICARE
COVERED THE FIRST $2,800 WORTH
OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BUT THEN
YOU DIDN'T GET ANY MEDICARE
COVERAGE OF DRUGS UNTIL YOU HAD
EXCEEDED $6,300.
AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY
AND YOU WERE A SENIOR CITIZEN,
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WAS HAPPENING
IN THAT $3,000 TO $4,000 GAP, A
SENIOR CITIZEN, LIKE SOME OF THE
SENIOR CITIZENS IN YOUR STATE
AND MY STATE, MADAM PRESIDENT,
WAS THEY WERE DOING WITHOUT OR
THEY WERE CUTTING IN HALF THEIR
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR THEY WERE,
UNFORTUNATELY, MAKING THE CHOICE
BETWEEN FOOD OR THEIR MEDICINE.
SOMETHING THAT IN AMERICA IN THE
21st CENTURY YOU CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT'S GOING ON BUT, IN FACT, IT
WAS AND UNFORTUNATELY IT STILL
BUT IT'S ABOUT TO GO OUT BECAUSE
WE ARE NOW COVERING THAT GAP
THAT IS KNOWN AS THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE IN THE NEW HEALTH CARE
REFORM BILL.
AND SO THIS BILL THAT WAS PASSED
A YEAR AGO IS CLOSING THE GAP IN
THAT COVERAGE, AND IN MY STATE
ALONE, THAT MEANS THAT 235,000
FLORIDA SENIORS RECEIVED A CHECK
IN THIS YEAR OF $250 THAT HELPED
COVER THE COST OF THOSE
PRESCRIPTIONS IN THAT LAST YEAR
OF 2010.
AND THIS YEAR IN 2011, UNDER THE
NEW HAW, THE SENIORS WHO -- NEW
LAW, THE SENIORS WHO HIT THAT
GAP CALLED THE DOUGHNUT HOLE ARE
GOING TO RECEIVE A DISCOUNT OF
50% OFF THE COST OF THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS AND THE GAP UNDER
THE NEW LAW IS GOING TO BE
ENTIRELY ELIMINATED BY THE YEAR
IT'S GOING TO BE GRADUALLY
PHASED IN.
A YEAR AGO, A LOT OF FOLKS
TALKED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF
ADVANTAGE.
REMEMBER THAT?
REMEMBER ALL OF THAT CRITICISM
ABOUT HOW MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WAS
GOING TO GO DOWN AND HOW IT WAS
GOING TO GET CUT?
WELL, WHEN WE STARTED PROPOSING
SOME REAL IMPROVEMENTS TO
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, A LOT OF THE
OPPONENTS WERE SAYING THAT IT
WAS GOING TO KILL THE PROGRAM.
THEY SAID IT WAS GOING TO CUT
THOSE BENEFITS AND IT SCARED A
LOT OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
WELL, THE TRUTH WAS THAT THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT
PROVIDED MEDICARE -- CALLED
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE -- HAD A
CUSHY EXTRA 14% OVER MEDICARE
PRESCRIPTION DIRECT BENEFITS,
AND MEDICARE FEE-FOR-SERVICE
PLUS 14% IS WHAT THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES WERE GETTING, AND
THOSE INSURANCE COMPANIES
POCKETED MUCH OF THAT GOVERNMENT
EXTRA SPENDING, AND WE WERE NOT,
UNDER THE OLD LAW, HOLDING THOSE
INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
FOR ENOUGH ON QUALITY.
WELL, AS A RESULT OF THAT HEALTH
CARE REFORM BILL, TODAY THAT
PROGRAM IS STRONGER THAN EVER.
REMEMBER HOW THEY SAID IT WAS
GOING TO GET WHACKED AND IT WAS
GOING TO CAUSE THE SENIORS TO GO
WAY DOWN?
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, IN MY
STATE, ENROLLMENT IS UP 6% IN
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND THE
PREMIUMS ARE DOWN IN FLORIDA BY
9.6%.
-- ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.
THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
ALLOWS US TO PUSH BACK AGAINST
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO
WANTED TO CHARGE TOO MUCH FOR
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.
JUST IN MY STATE, WE WERE ABLE
TO SAVE FLORIDA SENIORS $4
MILLION IN THE FORM OF EXTRA
HEALTH BENEFITS OR REDUCED
OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR THEIR
MEDICARE COVERAGE.
AND NOW UNDER THE NEW LAW WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO REWARD
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS -- READ
"MEDICARE INSURANCE COMPANIES"
-- WE'RE GOING TO BE AIL TO
REWARD THEM FOR THOSE -- WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO REWARD THEM
FOR THOSE WHO PROVIDE THE
HIGH-QUALITY PLANS, THE
HIGH-QUALITY CARE.
REMEMBER BACK A YEAR AGO WHAT
WAS HAPPENING ON WASTE, FRAUD,
AND ABUSE IN MEDICARE, THE
STANDARDS TO PREVENT THAT WASTE,
FRAUD, AND ABUSE IN MEDICARE
WERE CERTAINLY NOT TOUGH ENOUGH.
HOW MANY TIMES DID WE PICK UP
THE NEWSPAPER AND WE BRED THIS
GUY -- AND WE READ ABOUT THIS
GUY HAD FLEECED MEDICARE BY OAMG
OPENING UP A STOREFRONT THAT WAS
A FAKE STOREFRONT AND JUST
STARTED BILLING MEDICARE RIGHT
PAYING.
AND, AS A RESULT, THE CRIMINALS
WERE ABLE TO RIP OFF FEDERAL
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS, AND A LOT
OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WASN'T
AN ADEQUATE ENOUGH REVIEW.
WE WILL, THIS NEW LAW -- WELL,
THIS NEW LAW HAS ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS WITH NEW TOOLS TO
PREVENT FRAUD BEFORE IT OCCURS.
AND THIS SENATOR HAD A PART, A
LITTLE BITTY PART IN THAT, AND
THE LAW GIVES STATES MONEY TO
CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON
LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS AND TO
EDUCATE SENIORS ON THE FRAUD
PREVENTION ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT
PREY ON OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
AND MY STATE HAS RECEIVED A
NUMBER OF -- IN EXCESS OF $3
MILLION THUS FAR IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE THAT EDUCATION ON FRAUD
PREVENTION.
BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES IN THIS
HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL,
MEDICARE IS NOW STRONGER THAN
EVER AND, AS IT IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED OVER THE COURSE OF
THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS -- IT
DIDN'T TAKE EFFECT ALL AT ONCE;
THERE'S A LOT OF IMPLEMENTATION
IN EACH YEAR OVER ABOUT THE NEXT
FOUR YEARS.
AND AS IT DOES, MEDICARE IS
GOING TO BE STRONGER THAN EVER.
AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO
CONTINUE TO PROTECT AND
STRENGTHEN MEDICARE FOR ALL OF
OUR SENIORS.
MR. PRESIDENT, ON THE OCCASION
OF THIS YEAR AGO WHEN IT -- THIS
NEW LAW ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
BECAME LAW, IT IS SO COMPLICATED
COMPLICATED.
AND THERE ARE MISTAKES IN IT AND
WE'LL CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES
OVER TIME.
THAT'S THE GOOD PART ABOUT THIS
THING BEING IMPLEMENTED OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS; THAT WHERE
THERE IS A MISTAKE, IT CAN BE
IF THIS THING GOES ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT,
WHICH I EXPECT IT WILL, AND IF
THE COURT DECLARES A PART OF IT
AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THE COURT IS GOING
TO STRIKE DOWN THE WHOLE LAW.
BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE NEEDS
TO BE CORRECTIONS AS IT'S BEING
IMPLEMENTED THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
I WANT TO COME TO THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE AND POINT OUT SOME OF
THESE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY
STRENGTHENED THE MEDICARE
PROGRAM AS WELL AS PROVIDING A
MORE FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE, PARTICULARLY FOR
AMERICA'S SENIOR CITIZENS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM OHIO.
PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO SPEAK FOR A MOMENT ON
-- I'M SO, I WANT TO NOTE --
WE'RE
IN A QUORUM CALL.
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
DISPENSE WITH THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I WANT TO SPEAK FOR A MOMENT
ABOUT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION
ELSE.
IT SHOULDN'T REALLY MATTER WHICH
POLITICAL PARTY YOU BELONG TO.
IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR ANY ELECTED
OFFICIAL TO USE THE BUDGET
PROCESS TO SCWAWNGDER OUR
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND UNDERMINE
ITSOUR ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
THAT IN THIS DEBATE.
I ALSO SEE THAT WE ARE LOOKING
IN A SMALL WINDOW OF THE BUDGET,
SOMETHING LIKE ONE-SIXTH OF THE
BUDGET IS WHERE ALL THE CUTS
CONFINING THE DISCUSSION TO
THAT, WITHOUT LOOKING AT A
MILLIONAIRE'SAIRE'S TAX, WITHOUT
LOOKING AT CLOSING LOOPHOLES.
AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER KNOWS,
IF A COMPANY IN WHEELING, WEST
VIRGINIA, OR ST. CLAIR'S CLAIRSVILLE,
OHIO, THEY CAN ACTUALLY DUCT THE
COST OF A SHUTDOWN.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
WEENGDZ TO CLOSE THOSE LOOPHOLES
WE NEED TO CLOSE THOSE
LOOPHOLES.
YESTERDAY I WAS ON THE PHONE
WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER AND
TALKING TO OHIO AND NEVADA MEDIA
AND ALSO WITH JOHN PAUL HALL,
AND OHIO VETERANS, WHO AFTER
BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY
WAS LEFT HOMELESS AND TURNED TO
DRUG ABUSE.
WITH SUPPORT, AND A GRANT
PROGRAM, HE'S GOT AN APARTMENT,
HIS LIFE IS ON TRACK.
HE IS ENROLLROLLED IN COLLEGE IN
OHIO AND IS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE
AND WILL BE VERY EMPLOYABLE.
THOSE ARE THE KINDED OF CUTES
THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE TO
MATERNAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS,
TO HEAD START, TO PROGRAMS LIKE
THIS, FOR HOMELESS VETS.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THAT'S
THE APPROACH THEY'VE TAKEN
INSTEAD OF A MUCH MORE SERIOUS
LONG-TERM DEFICIT REDUCTION.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM WHAT JOHN
McCAIN'S CHIEF ECONOMIC
ADVISOR SAID THAT THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET THAT CAME OUT OF THE
HOUSE WOULD RESULT IN 700,000
LOST JOBS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF
THEIR APPROACH, AND THAT'S
CLEARLY NOT THE WAY, AS THIS
ECONOMIC RECOVERY HAS BEGUN, NOT
FAST ENOUGH IN WEST VIRGINIA,
OHIO, OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT IT'S BEGUN.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO UNDERCUT
THAT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
INSERT THE REST OF MY REMARKS IN
A DIFFERENT PLACE IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I WANT TO SPHEEK --
WE WERE CONSIDERING EARLIER THIS
MORNING WHEN I WAS PRESIDINGSIDING AND
SENATOR LANDRIEU AND SNOWE WERE
LEADING VERY WE WILL ON THE
SMALL BUSINESS ISSUE.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ANOTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR SMALL
THAT'S OUR NATION'S TRADE AND
GLOBALIZATION AGENDA.
AS MY COMPLETION ARE AWAY, THE
GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF
PLERCHESES, THE SO-CALLED
G.S.P., THE ANDEAN TRADE
PREFERENCES FOR ECUADOR AND THE
REFORMS, THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE ALL EXPIRED IN
MID-FEBRUARY.
I DON'T THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE
ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I'M NOT.
I'VE OFFERED AMENDMENTS WITH
SENATOR CASEY AND REQUESTED
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PASS BOTH
THE ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCES AND
THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE,
BUT MY COLLEAGUES -- REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES HAVE OBJECTED.
OTHERS LIKE SENATOR McCAIN
REQUESTED UNANIMOUS CONSENT ON
ONLY THE ANDEAN TRADE
PREFERENCES AND I HAVE OBJECTED.
I HAVE OBJECTED BECAUSE WE CAN'T
TURN OUR BACK ON AMERICAN
WORKERS WHO LOSE THEIR JOB
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
ONLY TO THEN HELP OTHER WORKERS
IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
SINCE CONGRESS MADE REFORMS TO
THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
IN 2009, TRADE ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN WITH US
SINCE THE KENNEDY
IT CLEARLY WORKS.
WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS THROUGH
NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY GET
SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL
AND GET TRAINED TO BE PRODUCTIVE
WORKERS AGAIN.
THEY LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO
DOING OF THEERN.
SINCE CONGRESS MADE THE REFORMS
IN 2009, 170,000 ADDITIONAL
TRADE-IMPACTED WORKERS BECAME
ELIGIBLE FOR TRAINING UNDER THE
T.A. FOR WORKERS PROGRAM.
SO IF SOMEBODY LOSES THEIR JOB
BECAUSE OF A TRADE AGREEMENT
THAT WE PASS IN THIS INSTITUTION
-- NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR WITH
CHINA, OTHER KINDS OF TRADE
AGREEMENTS WITH US A AUSTRALIA AND
JORDAN AND PANAMA AND PERU --
WHEN WORKERS LOSE THEIR JOBS
BECAUSE OF THESE AGREEMENTS, WE
AT LEAST OWE IT TO THEM TO HELP
THEM WITH TRADE ADJUSTMENT
BUT SINCE THIS PROGRAM EXPIRED
LAST MONTH, WE'VE SHUT OFF
SERVICE WORKERS, WE'VE SHUT OFF
MANUFACTURING WORKERS WHO LOST
THEIR JOBS TO COUNTRIES THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A FREE TRADE
SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A FREE
TRADE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA OR
WE DID SOMETHING CALLED PNTR
WITH CHINA.
SO IF A WORKER IN DAYTON OR
ZANESVILLE LOSES THEIR JOB TO
LUCK.
THEY DON'T GET TEE A.A.
THEY WORKED AT A PLANT WHERE
THAT PLANT LOST THEIR -- THAT
PLANT MOVED BECAUSE OF TRADE,
THEY MOVED TO CHIEFNLT BUT THEY
DON'T GET ANY KIND OF
IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT.
IT SHOULDN'T WORK THAT WAY.
IN ADDITION, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
HEALTH COVERAGE TAX CREDIT
PROGRAM ALSO EXPIRED, HCTC HELPS
TRADE-AFFECTED WORKERS PURCHASE
PRIVATE HEALTH COVERAGE TO
REPLACE THE COVERAGE THEY LOST.
TRADE AGREEMENT.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH
INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE MUCH MONEY AND THEY GET
SOME TAX CREDIT FROM THE
GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM BE ABLE
TO AFFORD THIS HEALTH CARE.
IT HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS MANAGE HOSPITAL COSTS
AND MEDICATION AND NECESSARY
DOCTOR VISITS.
WITHOUT IT, THEY'RE AT RISK OF
LOSING NOT ONLY THEIR JOBS BUT
THEY ARE HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT MAY LEAVE THEM MORE LIKELY TO
LOSE THEIR HOME AND SUFFER FROM
FORECLOSURE.
T.A.A., TRADE ADJUSTMENT HTCT
TAX CREDIT MUST BE RENEWED
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE
CONGRESS CONSIDERS OR PASSES ANY
NEW TRADE AGREEMENT.
AMBASSADOR KIRK WILL CONGE BE
SUBMITTING THE U.S.-KOREA FREE
TRADE DISAGREEMENT TO CONGRESS.
I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT
THIS AGREEMENT.
I AM CONCERNED IT WILL BE A STEP
INDUSTRY.
I AM CONCERNED THAT LOW-WAGE
ASIAN NATIONS WILL USE KOREA AS
A PLATFORM TO EXPORT AUTO PARTS
AND STEAL DUTY-FREE TO THE U.S.
THEY'LL COME INTO SOME COUNTRY
THROUGH KOREA AND THEN GET
DUTY-FREE.
THIS ISN'T THEORY.
THIS IS BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENED
SINCE PASSING OTHER FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS.
EVERY TIME WE PASS A FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT, SUPPORTERS OF ICY IT
JOBS.
WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE TRADE
IT NEVER S IT'S ALWAYS LOST
MANUFACTURING JOBS AND IN
NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND MUCH
OF MY STATE WE'VE SEEN THAT
INFLICTED ON FAMILIES DAY AFTER
DAY AFTER DAY.
AND IT MEANS A LARGER TRADE
DEFICIT.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, AT LEAST
WE'LL HAVE THE TIME TO DEBATE
AND CONSIDER THE KOREAN TRADE
UNFORTUNATELY, SEVERAL MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
DON'T EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER THE
KOREA TRADE AGREEMENT UNLESS IT
IS PACKAGED WITH THE COLOMBIA
AND PANAMA AGREEMENTS.
SO ON TOP OF NOT EXTENDING TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, ON TOP OF
NOT EXTEND THE HEALTH CARE TAX
CREDIT, MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
WANT TO MOVE ON ALL THREE
LEFTOVER BUSH TRADE AGREEMENTS
-- KOREA AND COLOMBIA AND
PANAMA.
THESE TRADE DEALS WILL NOT BE
WINNERS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS.
WE KNOW THAT OUR EXPORTS
INCREASE EVERY -- THAT OUR
EXPORTS INCREASE WITH FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR IMPORTS
INCREASE TO A LARGER DEGREE.
THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH SAID
THAT WHEN WE HAVE A TRADE
SURPLUS OR DEFICIT OF $1
BILLION, IT TRANSLATES INTO
13,000 JOBS.
$1 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT IS
13,000 LOST JOBS.
A $1 BILLION IS SURPLUS IS
13,000 INCREASED JOBS.
THAT'S PRESIDENT BUSH'S NUMBERS.
YOU CAN JUST DO THE MATH.
WE HAVE TRADE DEFICITS OF
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WHEN PRODUCTION IN JOBS IS
OFFSHORE, INNOVATION IS NOT FAR
BEHIND.
ALL OF US -- AND I KNOW THE
PRESIDING OFFICER HAS BEEN, HAS
GONE THROUGH MANUFACTURING
PLANTS.
AND WHAT YOU SEE IN A
MANUFACTURING PLANT IS YOU SEE
WORKERS AND ENGINEERS FIGURING
OUT ALWAYS HOW TO INNOVATE TO
MAKE PRODUCTIVITY, TO INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY TO MAKE PRODUCTION
MORE EFFICIENT AND LESS
IF WE INNOVATE IN THIS COUNTRY
AND INVENT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
THEN WE SEND THOSE JOBS OVERSEAS
FOR PRODUCTION, WE BEGIN TO LOSE
THE INNOVATION EDGE, BECAUSE
OVER THERE, WHETHER IT'S MEXICO
OR CHINA OR INDIA OR JAPAN OR
ANYWHERE ELSE, WHEN THE
PRODUCTION IS DONE OVER THERE,
THE INNOVATION IS ALSO DONE ON
THE SHOP FLOOR OVER THERE.
WHILE WE BRAG ABOUT BEING THE
MOST INVENTIVE, INNOVATIVE
PEOPLE ON EARTH -- WHICH WE
ARE -- THE FUTURE DOESN'T
NECESSARILY LOOK THAT WAY AS WE
OUTSOURCE SO MANY OF THESE JOBS.
WE'VE SEEN HOW THESE FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS GIVE INCENTIVE TO
MOVE PRODUCTION OVERSEAS.
INSTEAD OF GIVING INS-PB
ALTERNATIVES -- INCENTIVES TO
AMERICAN COMPANIES TO PRODUCE
OVER HERE, WE DO THE OPPOSITE BY
PASSING NAFTA, CAFTA, ANY OF
THOSE.
PERU'S PRESIDENT GARCIA SPOKE TO
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HE
SAID COME AND OPEN YOUR
FACTORIES IN MY COUNTRY SO WE
CAN SELL YOUR OWN PRODUCTS BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES.
COME SELL YOUR OWN PRODUCTS BACK
TO THE UNITED STATES.
HOW'S THAT GOOD FOR AMERICAN
WORKERS?
HOW'S THAT GOOD FOR INSTPHOEFGS
HOW'S GOOD FOR AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING?
IT'S BECOME A BUSINESS PLAN FOR
FAR TOO MANY COMPANIES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE BROAD
SWEEP OF HISTORY, HOW OFTEN THIS
HAS EVER HAPPENED WHERE A
BUSINESS PLAN FOR U.S.
COMPANIES, WE INVENT SOMETHING
HERE, WE THEN PRODUCE IT IN
CHINA THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY, AND
THEN WE SHIP IT BACK TO THE
UNITED STATES, BACK TO THE HOME
THAT'S THE BUSINESS MODEL FOR
FAR TOO MANY COMPANIES.
IF THEY WERE TO SET UP IN CHINA
AND SELL INTO CHINA AND EAST
ASIA, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING.
BUT COMPANY AFTER COMPANY AFTER
AMERICAN COMPANY HAVE GONE
ABROAD, DONE THE PRODUCTION
THERE, SOLD IT BACK INTO THE
UNITED STATES.
SO IT'S NOT PROVIDING THE WORK
FOR AMERICAN WORKERS THAT IT
SHOULD.
AGAIN, MY COLLEAGUES ARE HOLDING
PEOPLE WHO NEED RETRAINING AND
ADJUSTMENT HOSTAGE TO ANOTHER
TRADE AGREEMENT.
SO THEY'RE SAYING IF YOU DON'T
PASS COLOMBIA AND PANAMA AND
KOREA, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO
EXTEND TRADE ADJUSTMENT
ASSISTANCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
EXTEND THE HEALTH COVERAGE TAX
CREDIT.
FREE TRADE'S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS
PUT SO MUCH STOCK INTO THESE
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS AND THEY
DO SO IGNORING THE ELEPHANT IN
THE ROOM.
I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR TRADE
AGREEMENT WITH CHINA.
CONGRESS APPROVED CHINA PNTR
MORE THAN 11 YEARS AGO.
WE'VE HAD HALF A BILLION DOLLARS
A DAY IN TRADE DEFICITS WITH
CHINA.
THAT MEANS WE BUY $500 MILLION A
DAY MORE IN PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
THAN WE SELL TO PRODUCTS IN
THAT'S WHAT A TRADE DEFICIT OF
$500 MILLION A DAY MEANS, THAT
WE ACTUALLY ARE BUYING $500
MILLION EVERY SINGLE DAY MORE
FROM CHINA THAN WE'RE SELLING TO
CHINA.
THAT IS NOT THE SIGN, LONG-TERM
SIGN OF PROSPERITY.
THAT IS NOT A LONG-TERM
INDICATOR OF STRENGTHENING THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
MR. PRESIDENT, UNTIL WE FIGURE
OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING ON TRADE
AND PUT A HALT TO THESE TRADE
AGREEMENTS AND LOOK AT WHAT WE
NEED TO DO INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO SEAT SHRINKING OF
THE MIDDLE CLASS.
LAST WEEK AN APPEALS COURT OF
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
MADE A HORRENDOUS DECISION IN
REMEDY LAWS.
THE W.T.O. AGAIN HAS OVERREACHED
BEYOND LAWS AND RULES AGAINST
OUR ANTI-DUMPING AND
COUNTERVEILING DUTY LAWS.
THESE LAWS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY
WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES,
PROTECT OUR ECONOMY AND PROTECT
OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORKERS
BUSINESSES.
ONE OF THE LAST TOOLS WE HAVE TO
DEFEND AGAINST UNFAIR TRADE LAW
ARE THESE TRADE REMEDY LAWS, AND
THE W.T.O., A BUNCH OF
BUREAUCRAT TRADE LAWYERS, ARE
TAKING THEM AWAY.
THE W.T.O. REUFRBGZ
LEGITIMACY -- RISKS LEGITIMACY
WITH A RULING LIKE THIS ONE.
I URGE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
TO REACT AGGRESSIVELY TO THIS
DECISION.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO STEP BACK
FROM THIS STALLED TRADE AGENDA,
STEP BACK FROM SOUTH KOREA, STEP
COLOMBIA.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO EXAMINE
INSTEAD WHAT'S IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF AMERICAN WORKERS AND
WE CAN FIND A BALANCED TRADE
AGENDA THAT MAKES SENSE FOR OUR
BUSINESSES, MAKES SENSE FOR OUR
WORKERS, MAKES SENSE FOR OUR
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I ASK CONSENT THAT SENATOR
BENNET AND I --
WE'RE