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THOSE KIDS, THAT BUFFETT RULE
WOULD HELP PAY FOR THE SNAP
PROGRAM.
IS IT INSIGNIFICANT NOW?
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
MY GOD, WHAT WE COULD DO IF WE
HAD THE WILL TO DO IT AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IT'S A QUESTION OF OUR VALUES
AND WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
IT'S ABOUT OUR KIDS OR RICHEST
1% OF OUR NATION GETTING
$187,000 IN A TAX BREAK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY IN HER
FIGHT FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
AND SHE HASN'T BEEN AFRAID TO
TAKE ON ANYONE IN ANY PARTY ON
THIS ISSUE OF MAKING SURE THAT
THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM IS SECURE
AND I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLELADY
FROM CALIFORNIA, MS. LEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST LET ME THANK MY COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN DELAURO FOR
YIELDING FOR THOSE KINDS AND
THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS
SPECIAL ORDER BUT FOR REALLY
CONTINUING TO BEAT THE DRUM SO
THE COUNTRY CAN UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE
IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST A JOB FOR
CONGRESSWOMAN DELAURO BUT HER
LIFE'S WORK.
AND I THANK HER FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARING TO
ATTACK FAMILIES ON FOOD STAMPS
AND TAKING AWAY PROTECTIONS FOR
THE POOR, SENIORS, CHILDREN,
DISABLED.
THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CUT UP TO
$33 BILLION FROM CRITICAL
ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS EVEN AS
THEY BRING UP THIS BILL, THE
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUT, WHICH IS
A TAX HOLIDAY FOR THE VERY
HEALTHY.
THEY ARE TRYING TO BRING THIS UP
AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEN REPUBLICANS TARGET PROGRAMS
THAT ATTACK PROGRAMS THAT MAKE
CHILDREN SUFFER HUNGER, THEY ARE
DOING IT IN THE NAME OF FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
IN THE NEXT BREATH, WHEN THEY
WANT TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO
WEALTH ANY BUSINESSES, THEN
THOSE SAME DEFICITS DON'T SEEM
TO MATTER.
MR. SPEAKER, MAKING CUTS ON
STRUGGLING FAMILIES DURING HARD
TIMES IS NOT ONLY HEARTLESS,
MEAN AND IMMORAL, BUT IT MAKES
NO SENSE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
REDUCE THE DEFICIT NOR CREATE
JOBS.
AND
W.I.C. NOT ONLY FEED THE POOR
AND FAMILIES, BUT IT HELPS THE
ECONOMY.
IT GENERATES A H $1.84 IN
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE RATED IT IS ONE OF THE
TWO MOST COST EFFECTIVE OF
SPENDING AND TAX OPTIONS AND
BOOSTS JOBS IN A WEAKENED
ECONOMY.
I HAD A PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK AND I
THANK YOU, AND THIS IS YOUR
LIFE'S WORK, THIS ISN'T ABOUT
YOUR JOB.
THIS IS ABOUT YOU AS A HUMAN
BEING AND ABOUT US AND OUR
VALUES.
MANY YEARS AGO, WHILE I WAS
RAISING MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN,
TWO BOYS AS A SINGLE MOTHER, I
FELL ON DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE
CONGRESSWOMAN WOOLSEY AND SHE
ENCOURAGED ME TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I WAS SO EMBARRASSED AND NEVER
TALKED ABOUT IT UNTIL LYNN
WOOLSEY ENCOURAGED ME.
I HAD TO GO ON FOOD STAMPS TO
HELP ME FEED MY KIDS DURING THAT
VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD IN MY LIFE
AND IT WAS HARD.
AND AGAIN, I WAS VERY
EMBARRASSED.
BUT TO THIS DAY, I WANT TO THANK
MY GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF
THE UNITED STATES FOR EXTENDING
THIS HELPING HAND TO ME AS A
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER EVEN
THOUGH I WAS EMBARRASSED AND
DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE, I HAD TO FOR A WHILE
AND IT WASN'T THAT I WAS A
WELFARE QUEEN, YOU KNOW.
BUT THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT
TIME.
AND MOST FAMILIES, 95% OF
FAMILIES, DON'T WANT TO BE ON
FOOD STAMPS.
THEY WANT TO TRADE THEIR BOOK OF
FOOD STAMPS FOR A LIVING WAGE
PAY CHECK.
CUTTING SNAP DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE.
THERE ARE FOUR JOB SEEKERS FOR
EVERY ONE JOB IN AMERICA.
AND WE CAN'T CUT THE BENEFITS
THAT HELPS KEEP FOOD ON THEIR
TABLE UNTIL THEY CAN GET THEIR
JOBS.
FOR THE LIFE OF ME, IT'S REALLY
HARD, IT'S REALLY HARD TO
UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE OF FAITH
-- YOU KNOW HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT
THE SCRIPTURES SAY, WE ARE OUR
BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S KEEPERS.
COUNTRY.
THIS ISN'T A POOR, DEVELOPING
WHAT DOES THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
PROPOSE?
WE WILL CREATE A COUNTRY THAT WE
WON'T RECOGNIZE.
ONE THAT SAYS I GOT MINE, YOU
GET YOURS.
THIS 11% CUT IN FOOD STAMPS,
WHICH THE REPUBLICANS PROPOSE
SAYS YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN UNLESS
YOU ARE VERY WEALTHY.
I KNOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AREN'T GOING TO GO FOR THIS.
OUR VALUES AS A COUNTRY WON'T
ALLOW THIS KIND OF CUT IN THE
SNAP PROGRAM.
AMERICANS CARE ABOUT THE COMMON
GOOD.
AND SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO -- THE REPUBLICANS,
THE TEA PARTY REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO HEAR FROM THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ON THIS.
CONGRESSWOMAN DELAURO, I THANK
YOU FOR GIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO STAND
UP FOR THE 46 MILLION PEOPLE
THAT NEED THIS HELPING HAND AS
ONE WHO NEEDED A HELPING HAND IN
MY LIFE AND HELPED ME TO LIVE
THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR MYSELF
AND MY FAMILY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM THREE MORE COLLEAGUES.
CONGRESSMAN TONKO AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND WE
WILL HEAR FROM CONGRESSWOMAN
SCHAKOWSKY AND CONGRESSMAN
LARSEN.
AS MY GOOD FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE INDICATED, OUR BUDGET,
BUDGET OUTCOMES ARE A SUM TOTAL
OF OUR PRIORITY.
OUR SOCIETY?
WHAT ARE THOSE SENSITIVITIES WE
EXPRESS AND THOSE OUTRIGHT
REQUIREMENTS, BASIC FOUNDATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY?
ONE OF THOSE BASIC
NEEDS IS TO HAVE PEOPLE HAVE THE
SOUNDNESS OF NUTRITION AND
ENABLE US TO FEED FAMILIES THAT
HAVE FALLEN ON DIFFICULT TIMES.
WHAT WE HAVE AT RISK AS WE SPEAK
HERE THIS EVENING AS WE SPEAK
HERE IS THE SNAP PROGRAM.
THE SNAP PROGRAM TOUCHES ONE IN
SEVEN AMERICANS.
THAT IS STAGGERING.
AND FOR EVERY $5 IN BENEFITS,
THEY GENERATE IN $9 IN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY, A TWO-TIME ECONOMIC
FACTOR.
IN AND IN MY HOME DISTRICT IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK, 23,000
HOUSEHOLDS ARE UTILIZING SNAP
FUNDS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE THREE IN FOUR HAVE HAD AT
LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
WORK IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
WE HAVE MANY CHILDREN, ONE OUT
OF TWO ON SNAP IS UNDER 18 YEARS
OF AGE.
WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH ECONOMY AND
PEOPLE HAVE STUMBLED ON TOUGH
TIMES.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
BECAUSE BEFORE THE END OF THIS
MONTH, THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT
MADE, THEY ARE ASKING THE AG
COMMITTEE COME UP WITH CUTS THAT
ARE BRUTAL AND COME UP WITH $32
BILLION.
PUT ON THE CHOPPING TPWHROCK ARE
SNAP FUNDS.
WE ARE ARE AFFECTING THE HUNGRY
AMONG US AND THOSE FAMILIES WILL
RECIRCULATE INTO OUR REGIONAL
ECONOMY.
THIS IS A SOUND PROGRAM THAT
NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED AND SHOW
PRIORITYIZATION.
THAT IS SOUND NUTRITION FOR OUR
AMERICAN FAMILIES.
AND I HAVE SEEN IT AND IT WORKS,
AND WORKS WELL AND WE NEED TO
HIGH PRIORITY.
A THANK REPRESENTATIVE DELAURO
TO SHARE CONCERNS ON BEHALF OF
THE GOOD PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT
IN THE 21 DID DISTRICT -- 21ST
DISTRICT FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I YIELD TO
CONGRESSWOMAN SCHAKOWSKY.
.
SHE IS A TOUGH FIGHTER.
I THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS DEBATE WHERE SO MANY OF
OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE COME DOWN TO
THE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THIS IS THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD AND YET ONE OUT OF
FIVE OF OUR CHILDREN IS
CONSIDERED FOOD INSECURE.
GOES HUNGRY.
THAT IS SUCH A MORAL OUTRAGE.
YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE FOOD STAMP
BENEFIT IS $1.50 A MEAL.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE
LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PART OF THE
SNAP PROGRAM.
AND AS THIS CHART SHOWS, THIS
MAP SHOWS, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN A DISTRICT
THAT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE
LEAST HARD-HIT BY FOOD
INSECURITY.
BUT THAT'S ALL RELATIVE BECAUSE
IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
ILLINOIS, MORE THAN 11% OF THE
HARDSHIP.
HOUSEHOLDS ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD
THE INABILITY TO PUT ENOUGH FOOD
ON THE TABLE.
AND EVEN THE LEAST OF THE
HARD-HIT DISTRICTS HAS 7% OF ITS
FAMILIES UNABLE TO PUT ENOUGH
FOOD ON THE TABLE IN THE RICHEST
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
IT'S INTOLERABLE.
YOU KNOW, THE HEADLINE TODAY IN
"POLITICO," REPUBLICANS AXE AID
TO THE POOR.
MAKES ME SO SAD.
WHO ARE WE AS A COUNTRY?
WHAT ARE WE AS A COUNTRY?
WHERE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT,
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT, DENIGRATES BARACK
OBAMA BY CALLING HIM THE FOOD
STAMP PRESIDENT.
I'M PROUD THAT THIS PRESIDENT
WANTS TO DEFEND, PROTECT AND
SAVE A PROGRAM THAT FEEDS SO
MANY PEOPLE.
AND HERE'S WHAT THE CATHOLIC
BISHOPS SAY.
SNAP, ALSO KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS,
HELPS FEED MILLIONS OF
HOUSEHOLDS.
AT THIS TIME OF ECONOMIC TURMOIL
AND GROWING POVERTY, THE
COMMITTEE SHOULD OPPOSE CUTS IN
THIS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM THAT HELPS
PEOPLE LIVE IN DIGNITY.
I KNOW WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, WE'RE ACTING
-- ASKING FOR DIGNITY FOR
AMERICANS, THAT OUR -- THAT ARE
STRUGGLING.
THE AVERAGE FOOD STAMP RECIPIENT
IS ONLY ON IT FOR NINE MONTHS.
ONE OF THE FORMER RECIPIENTS
CALLED IT A *** LEAN THAT
HELPS YOU -- TRAMPOLINE THAT
HELPS YOU GET PAST IT.
I'M ASKING FOR DIGNITY FOR
AMERICANS AND SAVING THE
NUTRITION PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY
PROGRAM.
THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE FOOD STAMP
THANK YOU.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY AND IT GIVES ME
REALLY, I'M DELIGHTED TO BE
JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE FROM
CONNECTICUT, WHO'S CHAIRED OUR
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND WHOSE
CAREER, WHETHER IN THE STATE
SENATE IN CONNECTICUT, IN OUR
LEGISLATURE THERE, IN HIS WORK
HERE, HAS BEEN REMARKABLE ANDED
A ITS CORE AGAIN ARE OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LARSON FROM
CONNECTICUT.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FROM CONNECTICUT AND
DEAN OF OUR DELEGATION.
THE DEANESS I GUESS I SHOULD SAY
FOR HER TIRELESS WORK AND
ADVOCACY ON THE PART OF NOT ONLY
THE CITIZENS OF THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
CONNECTICUT, BUT ACROSS THIS
GREAT NATION AND I DARESAY THIS
GLOBE.
I NEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED BY
THE ELOQUENCE OF OUR MEMBERS.
SO MANY OF THEM COMING FORWARD
AND SPEAKING THEIR MINDS AND
SPEAKING FROM THEIR HEART ABOUT
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWORN --
THAT WE'RE SWORN TO SERVE AND
REPRESENT.
THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS WE FACE
AGAIN LEGISLATION RATHER
IRONICALLY WHERE WE'RE DEEMING,
DEEMING A BUDGET PASSED.
ALMOST AS THOUGH WE WOULD DEEM
THAT THE HUNGRY BE FED.
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT IN ANOTHER
TIME RECOGNIZED THE GREAT
SACRIFICE THAT THE NATION HAD
TONE DOUR AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
THIS PAST -- TO ENDURE AND
PRESIDENT OBAMA THIS PAST
JANUARY CALLED UPON THE SHARED
SACRIFICE THAT'S REQUIRED
AMONGST A NATION.
A NATION THAT NEEDS TO PULL
TOGETHER IN A VERY DIFFICULT
RECESSIONARY TIME.
AND IN THIS TIME IT'S A TIME
WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES.
AND THOSE CHOICES HAVE TO BE
BASED ON YOUR VALUES AND HAVE TO
BE BASED AS THE PRESIDENT SAID
ON SACRIFICE.
ROOSEVELT CALLED FOR THE WARM
COURAGE OF NATIONAL SECURITY
A SHARED
SACRIFICE.
46 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE.
PRIMARILY WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO
GET FED AND NOURISHED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEBATE ON
A BUDGET THAT STRIKES AT THE
CORE OF THIS, AT A TIME WHEN WE
WOULD GIVE TAX BREAKS OF $47
BILLION, WHILE WE'RE TAKING AWAY
FROM THE NEEDIEST AMONGST US?
ROOSEVELT SAID THE PROBLEM WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
IS THEY CAN BECOME FROZEN IN THE
ICE OF THEIR INDIFFERENCE
TOWARDS THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
EVERY DAY -- EVERYDAY AMERICANS
SEARCHING AND STRUGGLING IN THIS
RECESSIONARY PERIOD.
AND WHAT DO WE GET IN RETURN?
GET ROMNEYCARE?
WE GET TAX BREAKS FOR BANK
CAPITAL?
WE GET TAX BREAKS THAT ARE
COMING TO THE NATION'S
WEALTHIEST 1%?
AT A TIME WHERE WE ASK THE
MIDDLE CLASS WHO IS STRUGGLING
TO PAY FOR IT?
WE'RE OUT HERE TODAY TALKING
ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM
THAT PROVIDES NUTRITION TO THE
LEAST AMONGST US AND WE'RE
CALLING FOR CUTS THAT ARE NOT
ONLY GOING TO TAKE FROM THEM,
BUT IT WILL TAKE FROM STUDENTS
THAT ARE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO
PAY OFF THEIR EDUCATIONAL LOAN?
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
WE'RE A BETTER COUNTRY THAN
THIS.
I COMMEND THE GENTLELADY FROM
CONNECTICUT FOR BRINGING THIS TO
OUR ATTENTION AND FOCUSING ON
THE NEEDS OF A GREAT NATION.
THAT IN A TIME OF BUDGETARY
CONCERNS HAS TO CHOOSE THE
APPROPRIATE VALUES FOR THE
COUNTRY, WHO HAS TO MAKE THE
APPROPRIATE CHOICES, WE ALL
AGREE, AND THE NEED TO
SACRIFICE, BUT IT HAS TO BE
SHARED AND SHOULDN'T BE BALANCED
ON THE BACKS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND THE POOREST AMONGST US.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FROM
CONNECTICUT FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
I THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN AND I THANK OUR
COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING US
TONIGHT.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MR.
FLEMING, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. SPEAKER, I
APPRECIATE YOUR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK TONIGHT IN THIS HOUR THAT
I AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO WILL BE
JOINING ME VERY SHORTLY, OTHER
PHYSICIANS WHO ARE FROM THE
G.O.P. DOCTORS CAUCUS, PERHAPS
NURSE, OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
AS WELL.
IN THIS NEXT HOUR WE'RE GOING TO
BE TALKING ABOUT OUR FAVORITE
SUBJECT AND THAT IS HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
SPECIFIC ASPECTS, THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN -- HAVE ACTUALLY COME
TO LIGHT TO US THAT I THINK ARE
IMPORTANT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OTHER THINGS
THAT IN THE COMING DAYS WE'RE
GOING TO LEARN ABOUT HOW
OBAMACARE WAS PASSED, WHAT
THINGS WERE DONE BY THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME WOULD
CALL SAUSAGE MAKING, OTHERS
WOULD SAY IT'S IMPROPER.
BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY SPEND SOME
TIME ON THAT AS THE DAYS COME.
I WANT TO CONTINUE A THEME THAT
WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING AND THAT
IS THE BROKEN PROMISES OF
OBAMACARE.
REMEMBER THAT TO GET OBAMACARE
PASSED, THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
MADE A NUMBER OF PROMISES AND
I'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE
THAT IS RELEVANT TO OUR TOPIC
TONIGHT AND THAT IS, UNDER PLY
PLAN, NO FAMILY MAKING -- UNDER
MY PLAN, NO FAMILY MAKING LESS
THAN $250,000 A YEAR WILL SEE
ANY FORM OF TAX INCREASE AND
THAT WAS CANDIDATE OBAMA.
SENATOR OBAMA AT THE TIME.
WHO TALKED ABOUT ALL THE NUMBER
OF THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO BE
GOOD ABOUT OBAMACARE, BUT IN
FACT WE SEE THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERYTHING THAT'S COME OUT WITH
A FEW POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS HAVE
NOT BEEN SO FAVORABLE.
AND I THINK THAT TAXES IS REALLY
A VERY RELEVANT SUBJECT TO SPEAK
ABOUT THIS EVENING.
ARE, TODAY IS
THE TAX DEADLINE FOR THE I.R.S.,
AND WE'RE ALL HAVING THAT ON OUR
MINDS.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING,
WHENEVER I FILE MY TAXES, THE
FIRST THING I THINK ABOUT AFTER
DOING THAT IS PROJECTING INTO
THE NEXT YEAR, WHAT ARE THE
ISSUES GOING TO BE FOR ME AND MY
TAXES?
AND SO I THINK IT'S ONLY PROPER
THAT NTH, -- AND THE TIMING IS
EXCELLENT THAT WE TALK ABOUT
THAT THIS EVENING.
THE CANDIDATE OBAMA PLEDGED HE
WOULD NOT RAISE ANY OF YOUR
TAXES AND PROMISED NOT TO TAX
HEALTH BENEFITS.
HIS HEALTH CARE LAW BROKE THOSE
PROMISES AT LEAST 10 TIMES.
HERE'S JUST A LINE-UP OF SOME OF
THE TAXES THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
$52 BILLION IN FINES ON
EMPLOYERS WHO DO NOT PROVIDE
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED COVERAGE.
REMEMBER THAT UNDER OBAMACARE,
NOT ONLY IS THERE A MANDATE FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO BUY INSURANCE,
HEALTH INSURANCE, THERE'S A
MANDATE ON THE EMPLOYERS, THE
BUSINESS OWNERS, TO BUY IT AS
WELL.
AND UPON BOTH IS THE BURDEN TO
BUY NOT HEALTH INSURANCE BUT
GOVERNMENT-CONCEIVED HEALTH
INSURANCE.
THAT IS, HEALTH INSURANCE THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS WISDOM,
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DECIDES
AND DEEMS IS PROPER FOR US.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE TWO
FULFILLMENTS IN THAT MANDATE.
ONE IS TO BUY HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE AND NUMBER TWO, HEALTH
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
CARE INSURANCE THAT'S APPROVED
$32 BILLION IN TAXES ON HEALTH
INSURANCE PLANS.
THE ACTUAL HEALTH PLANS ARE
GOING TO BE TAXED AS WELL.
NOW, WHO IS GOING TO PAY THAT
TAX?
COULD YOU THINK THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES ARE GOING TO PAY IT?
NO.
IT'S GOING TO BE PASSED DOWN TO
YOU, THE SUBSCRIBER, BECAUSE
TAXES ALWAYS ON BUSINESS MAKE
THEIR WAY DOWN TO THE CONSUMER.
$5 BILLION IN TAXES FOR LIMITS
ON OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION.
$15 BILLION IN TAXES FROM
LIMITING THE DEDUCTION ON
ITEMIZED MEDICAL EXPENSES.
BILLION IN TAXES FROM NEW
LIMITS ON FLEXIBLE SPENDING
ARRANGEMENTS.
$60 BILLION IN TAXES ON HEALTH
INSURANCE PLANS.
$27 BILLION IN TAXES ON
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.
$20 BILLION IN TAXES ON MEDICAL
DEVICE COMPANIES.
$3 BILLION IN TAXES ON TANNING
SERVICES, $3 BILLION IN TAXES ON
SELF-INSURED HEALTH PLANS.
AND $1 BILLION IN NEW PENALTIES
ON HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT
DISTRIBUTIONS.
THE HEALTH CARE LAW ALSO
INCLUDES A HIGH INCOME TAX.
THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT INDEXED
FOR INFLATION.
IT WILL EVENTUALLY HIT 80% OF
TAXPAYERS.
I DRAW MY COLLEAGUES' ATTENTION
TO THIS SLIDE.
OBAMACARE'S RISING TAX BURDEN.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TAX BURDEN
IN 2012, THE YEAR WE'RE IN, $190
FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT'S $15
BILLION, AND YOU SEE THAT THE
BURDEN GOES UP EACH YEAR, THAT
THE OUT YEAR 2022, IT MAKES IT
ABOVE $150 -- I'M SORRY, $150
BILLION, 2032, THE BURDEN GOES
WELL ABOVE $250 BILLION AND IT
FINALLY TOPS OUT AT $320 BILLION
TOTAL AND THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF
$3,290 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. WHAT AM I SAYING?
REMEMBER WHEN YOU HEAR THE
RHETORIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW WE
SHOULD BE HAVING MORE SACRIFICE
FROM THE WEALTHY AND MORE
SACRIFICE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE
MORE.
REMEMBER THE LUXURY TAX?
WHAT DID IT DO?
IT KILLED THE COMPANIES THAT
MADE BOATS AND LUXURY ITEMS, THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE HURT.
NOT THE WEALTHY.
THEY CAN BUY THOSE THINGS.
WE CAME UP WITH THOSE SILLY
IDEAS OF MAKING THE WEALTHY DO
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WELL, WE HAVE THE A.T.M. TODAY,
AND WHERE HAS IT GOT US?
BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER INDEXED FOR
INFLATION, MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE
ARE BEING HIT BY THE ALTERNATIVE
MINIMUM TAX.
IT ISN'T JUST A TAX ON THE
MIDDLE CLASS,
THE PEOPLE THAT OUR COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
TALK ABOUT.
EVERY TIME WE COME UP WITH A TAX
ON THE WEALTHY, IT MAKES ITS WAY
TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING
CLASS.
FOLKS, WE ALL KNOW THAT
INFLATION OCCURS EVERY YEAR AT
AN AVERAGE RATE OF % BUT AS HIGH
AS 16% IN OUR HISTORY.
ANY TIME WE HAVE A TAX LAW THAT
AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH A CERTAIN
TAX INCOME, WE KNOW PEOPLE WITH
LOWER AND LOWER INCOMES BECAUSE
WHILE THEY ARE ABSOLUTE DOLLARS
IN VALUE ARE GOING TO GO UP, THE
TRUTH IS THE PURCHASE POWER OF
THOSE DOLLARS GO DOWN AND PUSHES
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE OF LOWER
AND LOWER INCOME LEVELS INTO
HIGHER TAX BRACKETS.
AND SO, AGAIN, OUR COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE,
THEY LOVE THESE TAXES ON THE
WEALTHY, BUT THEY CAN NEVER MAKE
ENOUGH MONEY.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE BUFFETT TAX,
THE BUFFETT RULE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE WEALTHY PEOPLE TO PAY AN
ADDITIONAL TAX.
AND IT WOULD ONLY ADD $4 BILLION
A YEAR, LESS THAN 1% OF THE
ANNUAL DEFICIT.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE
GOING TO GET MORE INCOME FROM
TAXES, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT
YOU NEVER GET MORE INCOME FROM
TAXES,, BUT IF YOU THINK YOU
CAN, YOU CAN ONLY GET IT IF YOU
SPREAD IT OUT FROM THE WORKING
CLASS AND MIDDLE CLASS AND THE
ONLY WAY IS TO PASS IT ON THE
WEALTHY FIRST AND THEN THROUGH
INFLATION IS PASSED DOWN THROUGH
TO ALBEIT A LOWER INCOME LEVEL
BUT A LARGER GROUP BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T GET ENOUGH TAX REVENUE ON
PUTTING TAX ON THE WEALTHY.
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH WEALTHY
PEOPLE TO DO IT.
YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT DOWN WHERE
THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE AND
THAT'S THE WORKING PLACE AND THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
RHETORIC VERSUS REALITY ON
PREMIUM OS COSTS.
THE AVERAGE COST OF ANNUAL
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.
THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA IN
CAMPAIGNING FOR OBAMACARE SAID
WOULD HAPPEN.
HE SAID THE COST WOULD GO DOWN
BY 2,000 500 AND WHAT ARE WE
HEARING?
NOT ONLY WILL GET IT GO UP BUT
WE ALREADY HAVE A DIFFERENTIAL
OF AROUND $4,000 FROM WHERE
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID WE WOULD BE
TODAY AND WHERE WE ARE.
IT HASN'T GONE DOWN BUT ACTUALLY
GONE UP.
LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
MORE TAXES AND THEN I'LL
INTRODUCE A COLLEAGUE HERE AND
GIVE HIM SOME SHARING TIME AS
WELL.
SURTAX ON INVESTMENT INCOME.
$123 BILLION, WHICH BEGINS THIS
PAST JANUARY, CREATION OF A NEW
3.8% TAX ON INVESTMENT EARNED
INCOME.
NOW THIS IS THE HOMEOWNER REAL
STAT TAX.
FOLKS, THIS IS A TERRIBLE TAX,
3.8% ON INVESTMENT INCOME.
NOW WHEN YOU SELL YOUR HOME, IT
MAY NOT BE CLASSED AS INVESTMENT
INCOME, BUT IT CAN BE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT, IF YOU
OWN ANY TYPE OF OTHER PROPERTY,
IF YOU OWN STOCKS AND BONDS,
MUTUAL FUNDS, WHATEVER, THEY CAN
BE EASILY SUBJECT TO THIS AND IT
IS NOT INDEXED TO INFLATION.
LET ME RE-EMPHASIZE THIS, YES,
TAX ON PEOPLE WHO MAKE
OVER $00,000 A YEAR, BUT IF YOU
MAKE $50,000 A YEAR, OVER TIME,
THIS WILL AFFECT YOU, TOO,
BECAUSE INFLATION WILL BRING
THOSE DOLLARS UP IN REAL TERMS
BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND YOUR
BUYING POWER WILL STAY AT THE
$50,000 LEVEL BUT WILL SHOW ON
$200,000.
PAPER YOU ARE MAKING OVER
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT
OBAMACARE HAS MANY TAXES AND
CERTAINLY THEY ARE TROJAN HORSES
BY ANY EXPLANATION AND YES, THEY
DON'T RAISE A LOT OF REVENUE AT
FIRST, BUT DOWN THE ROAD, THEY
RAISE A LOT OF REVENUE, BUT NOT
ON THE WEALTHY FOLK, BUT ON THE
WORKING CLASS.
THAT'S WHO IS GETTING HURT.
$5 BILLION THIS PAST JANUARY,
NO LONGER ABLE TO USE
THEIR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS,
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS ON
OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS.
IF YOU WANT TO USE YOUR HEALTH
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO PAY FOR
MEDICINE YOU ARE TAKING FOR A
HEADACHE, IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR
IT THROUGH YOUR HEALTH SAVINGS
ACCOUNT, YOU HAVE TO GO GET A
PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR.
AND THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO SAY,
LOOK, I'M OVERWHELMED WITH ALL
THESE PEOPLE WANTING ME TO DO
THIS, WE HAVE TO CHARGE
SOMETHING FOR THAT.
ULTIMATELY, MORE BUREAUCRACY,
MORE PAPERWORK, MORE COSTS AND
UP UNTIL NOW, PART OF OBAMACARE,
THAT'S NOT THE CASE, YOU COULD
PAY FOR THAT UNDER YOUR HEALTH
SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
$1.4 BILLION THAT BEGAN IN
TAX ON
EARLY WITHDRAWALS FROM 10% TO
20% DISADVANTAGE THEM RELATIVE
TO I.R.A. AND TAX-ADVANTAGED
ACCOUNTS.
IF YOU HAVE AN EARLY WITHDRAWAL
FROM YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN, YOU
HAVE HAD A 10% PLAN.
WELL, THAT'S BEEN DOUBLED.
SO OBAMACARE HAS LIMITED THE USE
OF HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, MADE THE
IT.
PENALTIES EVEN STEEPER FOR USING
AND I CAN TELL YOU IN MY OWN
CASE, APART FROM MY OWN MEDICAL
PRACTICE, WE HAVE USED THEM TO
TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO EMPLOYEES
BECAUSE IT HAS LOWERED THEIR
COSTS AND TAKEN A LOT OF ANXIETY
IN BEING CAUGHT OF SOME SORT OF
ILLNESS.
EXCISE TAX ON CHARITABLE
HOSPITALS, $50,000 TO HOSPITALS
MEET COMMUNITY
ASSESSMENT NEEDS.
SO THIS PROVISION WILL INCREASE
THE EMPLOYEE'S PORTION FROM
$1.45% TO 2.35% TO FAMILIES
MAKING MORE THAN $250,000 A
YEAR.
THE RATE WILL INCREASE BY $3.%
ON INCOME OVER $ 50,000.
I REALIZE I DON'T MAKE $250,000.
BUT BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND
TRUST ME, WITH THE MONETARY
EASING IN THE MONETARY POLICIES
THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION, INFLATION GETS
GOING AGAIN, WHICH IT WILL QUITE
SOON, YOU WILL BE DRIVEN UP, BUT
THE BUYING POUR WILL BE THE
SAME.
YOU WILL BE HIT WITH THIS TAX.
THE REALITY IS AND I'M GOING TO
BE RECOGNIZING MY GOOD FRIEND,
DR. GINGREY IN A MOMENT, REALITY
IS, OBAMACARE INCLUDES TONS OF
NEW TAXES HIKES.
HERITAGE HAS A LIST OF THEM THAT
IS SHOWS AN INCREASE OF REVENUE
OF $500 BILLION IN 10 YEARS.
TWO EXAMPLES THAT HIT CONSUMERS
ARE 10% OF INDOOR TAB TANNING
SERVICES BETWEEN 2010 AND 23019
AND 2013, THE EXCISE TAX ON
MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS OF
CERTAINLY MEDICAL DEVICES THAT
WILL RAISE $20 BILLION BETWEEN
2010 AND 2019.
AND I'M GOING TO THROW IN A
COUPLE MORE THINGS.
REMEMBER THIS DISCUSSION BEGAN
WITH THIS BEING THE APRIL 15
17 DEADLINE FOR YOUR
TAXES AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICES.
UNDER OBAMACARE AS MANY AS
16,000 NEW
R.S.
AGENTS WILL BE HIRED.
AND THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT
IT THAT THAT THE I.R.S. WILL BE
BEEFED UP TO THE TUNE OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ORDER TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WITH THAT, I HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
MY COLLEAGUE, DR. PHIL GINGREY,
FROM GEORGIA.
SOMEONE THAT I LOOK UP TO VERY
MUCH.
HE HAS BEEN A GREAT MENTOR TO ME
AND A ROLE MODEL.
IS HERE AS A PHYSICIAN IN DAYS
PAST WHEN THERE WEREN'T MANY
DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND HELPED START
THE G.O.P. DOCTORS' CAUCUS AND
HELP GROW OUR NUMBERS FROM A
AND HEALTH
CARE WORKERS TO OVER 15 M.D.'S
AND 20 HEALTH CARE WORKERS THAT
WE HAVE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THAT I THINK ARE
MAKING BIG, BIG DIFFERENCES IN
PARTICULARLY HEALTH CARE POLICY
OVERALL.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN, DR. GINGREY.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN VERY MUCH FOR YIELDING
AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS KIND
WORDS AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THE
TIME WITH HIM TONIGHT AND PLAN
TO REMAIN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR
THE REST OF THIS HOUR AND I WILL
MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND YIELD
BACK TO DR. FLEMING, AND MAYBE
HE WILL YIELD SOME ADDITIONAL
TIME TO ME IN THE HOUR.
BUT I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE
IN THE PREVIOUS HOUR, WHICH WAS
ALLOTTED TO OUR DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES THEIR LEADERSHIP
HOUR, THEY WENT FIRST TONIGHT,
AND THINK CHOSE TO TALK ABOUT
SNAP PROGRAM.
SNAP IS AN ACRONYM FOR THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH WE
FORMERLY KNOWN AND PEOPLE KNOW
IT AS THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AND
THEY SPENT THE -- TALKING ABOUT
CUTTING DISCRETIONARY FEDERAL
SPENDING AND REDUCING GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRACY AND BLOATEDNESS IN
SAYING THAT, YOU DO THAT, YOU
HURT THE POOR AND THE NEARLY
POOR THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED
THESE PROGRAMS.
AND THEY MADE SOME LEGITIMATE
POINTS, OF COURSE.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH
CARE IN OUR HOUR, AND
SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT THE PASSAGE
OF OBAMACARE ALMOST TWO YEARS
MORE THAN
TWO YEARS AGO NOW, TO CREATE A
NEW ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, THE
UNINSURED.
NOT THE PROGRAMS, LIKE THE
PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, THE S-CHIP
PROGRAM, IT'S CALLED, THE HEALTH
CARE PROGRAM FOR THE POOR,
MEDICAID, CERTAINLY NOT THE
PROGRAM FOR OUR SENIORS AND OUR
DISABLED AMERICANS UNDER
MEDICARE, BUT FOR FOLKS THAT
WERE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE
THAT MAYBE COULDN'T AFFORD OR
WEREN'T OFFERED HEALTH INSURANCE
BY THEIR EMPLOYER.
BUT THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE
UNINTENDED CONCH SEQUENCES OF
WHAT -- CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN.
I'M SURE THEY DIDN'T PASS A
2,600 PAGE BILL THAT WOULD
DELIBERATELY HURT ANYBODY.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON EITHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE WOULD DO THAT
OR ANY ADMINISTRATION WOULD DO
THAT.
BUT WE PHYSICIAN MEMBERS, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, MYSELF
AND OTHERS, THAT HAVE WORKED IN
THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY MOST OF
OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES BEFORE WE
GOT TO CONGRESS, UNDERSTOOD FAR
BETTER AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM
LOUISIANA HAS POINTED OUT IN THE
PRESENTATION, SLIDE
PRESENTATION, THAT HE HAS MADE.
I COULD PROBABLY TAKE THE REST
OF THE HOUR TALKING ABOUT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND LIST
THEM AS MY GOOD COLLEAGUE AND
THE COLLEAGUE ON THE SENATE
SIDE, A PHYSICIAN, DR. BORROW
ASO, JUST CAME OUT WITH A WHITE
MARCH 13.
A MONTH AGO.
AND IN THAT PAPER, HE LISTS 10
DIFFERENT UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS MENTIONED A
COUPLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE
A FEW MINUTES BEFORE YIELDING
WHACK TO HIM A FEW OF THE
PROMISES THAT HE HASN'T
MENTIONED.
AND THIS IS A QUOTE FROM
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
I WILL PROTECT MEDICARE, IN A
2009 ADDRESS TO CONGRESS,
PRESIDENT OBAMA PROMISED THAT HE
UNQUOTE.
WOULD QUOTE, PROTECT MEDICARE,
THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW,
HOWEVER, TAKES MORE THAN $500
BILLION FROM THE MEDICARE
PROGRAM AND USES THAT MONEY --
NOW, HE SAID -- AND THE DEMOCRAT
SAID WE
STREET THEN MEDICARE BUT --
STRENGTHENING MEDICARE, BUT A
10% CUT IN MEDICARE TOOK THAT
MONEY TO CREATE THIS NEW
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM.
THE MEDICARE ACTUARY HAS WRITTEN
THAT THE MEDICARE CUTS CANNOT BE
AT THE SAME TIME BE USED TO
FINANCE OTHER FEDERAL OUTLAYS
SUCH AS THE COVERAGE EXPANSION
UNDER THIS, AND TO EXTEND THE
MEDICARE TRUST FUND.
YOU CAN'T PAY FOR TWO THINGS
WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
INDEED, I WISH WE COULD.
THEN MAYBE FOLKS WOULDN'T HAVE
TO BE ON FOOD STAMPS AS AN
.
EXAMPLE.
MEDICARE PROVISIONS IN THE
HEALTH CARE PLAN, QUOTE, AGAIN,
THIS IS C.B.O., WOULD NOT
ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE
TO PAY FOR FUTURE
MEDICARE BENEFITS, UNQUOTE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA ACTUALLY
ADMITTED IN AN INTERVIEW, YOU
CAN'T SAY THAT YOU ARE SAVING ON
MEDICARE AND THEN SPENDING THE
MONEY TWICE.
THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE LAW
DOES.
IT'S SPENDS THE SAME MONEY
TWICE, UNDERMINING,
UNFORTUNATELY, A GREAT MEDICARE
PROGRAM THAT NEEDS TO BE
STRENGTHENED AND PROTECTED.
THAFTS ONE OF THE PROMISES --
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROMISES
BROKEN, PROMISES MADE BUT NOT
KEPT, AS THE SENATOR POINTED
OUT.
LET ME ADD ONE MORE.
THIS IS NUMBER FIVE OF THE 10
THAT THE SENATOR MENTIONED IN
HIS PAPER OF LAST MONTH, FROM
THE POLICY COMMITTEE ON THE
SENATE SIDE.
CANDIDATE OBAMA SAID THERE WAS
NO NEED FOR A MANDATE.
THIS IS BACK IN 2008, IN THAT
CAMPAIGN AGAINST SENATOR HILLARY
CLINTON.
CANDIDATE OBAMA OPPOSED A
MANDATE TO BUY INSURANCE AND
MADE IT ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF
HIS PRIMARY CAMPAIGN.
HE CLAIMED THAT PENALIZING
PEOPLE FOR NOT BUYING HEALTH
INSURANCE, LISTEN TO THIS, MR.
SPEAKER, WAS LIKE, AND QUOTE,
SOLVING HOMELESSNESS BY
MANDATING EVERYONE BUY A HOUSE.
HE SAID, PRESIDENT OBAMA,
SENATOR OBAMA AT THE TIME,
CANDIDATE OBAMA, SOLVING
HOMELESSNESS BY MANDATING
EVERYONE BUY A HOUSE.
WELL, THIS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
SOLVING THE UNINSURED PROBLEM BY
MANDATING THAT ALL THE REST OF
US PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COULD
AFFORD TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE,
BUT JUST SIMPLY DID NOT WANT IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE MAKE MORE THAN $50,000
A YEAR OR $75,000 A YEAR THAT
REALLY DIDN'T WANT -- DON'T
WANT, WOULD RATHER PAY AND SAY,
GO, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT, DR.
FLEMING DOESN'T RECOMMEND IT,
MR. SPEAKER, WE THINK THEY OUGHT
TO HAVE SOME MINIMAL COVERAGE
AND CERTAINLY CATASTROPHIC
COVERAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
THEIR LIFE, THEIR LIBERTY TO
CHOOSE IF THEY WANT TO NOT TO
HAVE THAT COVERAGE.
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HEALTH
CARE LAW, AS WE ALL KNOW NOW,
CREATED AN UNPRECEDENTED FEDERAL
REQUIREMENT FOR ALL CITIZENS TO
PURCHASE A PRODUCT MERELY
BECAUSE THEY EXIST, BECAUSE
THEY'RE LIVING AND BREATHING.
AND NOT JUST A PRODUCT, THEY
COULDN'T UNDER THIS BILL WHEN
IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED IN 2014,
THE MINIMAL COVERAGE REQUIREMENT
AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA
POINTED OUT, WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM
TO, LET'S SAY, TO HAVE A
MINI-MED POLICY AS MANY OF THE
FRANCHISES DO ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, IN THE FAST FOOD
INDUSTRY.
THEY ALL HAD TO BE GRANTED
WAIVERS.
SO HERE AGAIN, ANOTHER PROMISE
MADE AND NOT KEPT.
I HAVE A COUPLE MORE THAT I'LL
GET TO MAYBE LATER ON IN THE
HOUR.
BUT JUST TO POINT THAT OUT AND
CLEARLY THE SUPREME COURT I
THINK NOW UNDERSTANDS MUCH OF
THAT IN THE TESTIMONY THEY HEARD
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
SO, I'LL YIELD BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUE AND STICK WITH HIM
DURING THE REMAINING PORTION OF
THE TIME.
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE.
I'LL RETURN BACK TO YOU FOR SOME
MORE INFORMATION, THAT'S VERY
VALUABLE INFORMATION.
I WANT TO GET BACK TO AND RECAP
ABOUT.
SOME OF THE THINGS I TALKED
AND THAT IS THAT THE TAXES ARE
TREMENDOUSLY INCREASED UNDER
OBAMACARE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FINANCING
OF OBAMACARE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO STICK WITH
THE BASICS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAYSS THAT
FINANCED BUT I'M GOING TO TELL
OF MAYBE THE THREE MAJOR
WAYS THAT IT'S SUPPOSEDLY PAID
FOR.
NUMBER ONE, YOU HEARD MY FRIEND,
DR. BRING -- DR. GINGREY, SAY
THAT OBAMACARE ACTUALLY TAKES
OVER $500 BILLION, THAT IS OVER
A HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS, FROM
EXISTING MEDICARE.
AND USES THAT TO SUBSIDIZE THE
MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH PLANS FOR
LEVEL.
PEOPLE BELOW A CERTAIN INCOME
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT IN
SCRUFT A MOMENT.
I'M GOING DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO
SUBSIDIES.
THIS CHART AND TALK ABOUT THOSE
BUT NOT ONLY DOES IT DO THAT,
BUT AS MY GOOD FRIEND SAYS, IT'S
USED TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF
MEDICARE.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY HOW IT
WORKS.
THE IDEA OF THE BILL IS IT TAKES
MONEY OUT OF MEDICARE AND
THEORETICALLY MAKES MEDICARE
LAST LONGER BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING
OUT OF MONEY BY TAKING THE SAME
MONEY OUT OF THE MIDDLE AND
PUTTING IT AT THE END.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT
COULD WORK, BUT THAT'S THE WAY
IT WORKS.
THAT WOULD BE SORT OF LIKE
TAKING MONEY OUT OF YOUR
PAYCHECK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
YEAR AND SOMEHOW LIVING ON
NOTHING FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS
AND THEN GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU
TOOK OUT AND PAYING AT THE END.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT TAKES
THE SAME $500 BILLION, WE'VE
REALLY HONED DOWN THIS IN OUR
COMMITTEES, AND SECRETARY
SEBELIUS HAD TO ADMIT THAT THIS
WAS TRUE, IT TAKES THE SAME $500
BILLION THAT'S USED TO PROLONG
THE LIFE OF MEDICARE TO
PLAN.
SUBSIDIZE MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH
I DON'T KNOW, WHERE I COME FROM
IN LOUISIANA, WE CAN'T SPEND THE
SAME DOLLAR TWICE.
YOU CAN SPEND IT PLACE A AND
PLACE B.
MY KIDS WANT TO, YOU KNOW, GO TO
THE MOVIES OR THEY WANT TO DO
SOME ENTERTAINMENT OR MAYBE THEY
NEED MONEY FOR THEIR EDUCATION.
I CAN GIVE IT TO THEM, THEY CAN
SPEND IT ONE TIME.
THEY DON'T GET TO USE THE SAME
DOLLAR TWICE.
AND, FOLKS, NEITHER CAN YOUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT IS REALLY SMOKE AND
MIRRORS ACCOUNTING AND WE'VE
CALLED HIM OUT ON IT AND THEY
REALLY BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT'S
TRUE.
BUT THEN ANOTHER WAY THAT
OBAMACARE IS PAID FOR IS BY OVER
$800 BILLION OF TAXES IN 10
YEARS.
WHICH I'VE GONE OVER A NUMBER
THESE AND I'M GOING TO GET BACK
TO THEM.
IT REALLY IS NOT PAID FOR AND WE
KNOW, WE'RE GETTING ESTIMATES
NOW THAT'S SHOWING THAT AS MUCH
AS $300 BILLION TO $500 BILLION
ARE GOING TO BE ADDED OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS IN DEFICITS, TOTAL
DEBT IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO IT IS NOT PAID FOR, ALL OF
THESE STEEP TAXES, ALL OF THESE
SMOKE AND MIRROR-TYPES OF
ACCOUNTING ARE NOT GOING TO
WORK.
AND FURTHERMORE, HALF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOING TO GET HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE CARDS THAT THEY
WOULDN'T OTHERWISE GET ARE GOING
TO BE ON MEDICAID AND TODAY
MEDICAID PAYS ON AVERAGE ABOUT
60% OF WHAT MEDICARE PAYS TO
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHICH IS
ALREADY TOO LOW AND SO WHAT'S
THE CHANCE THAT 15 MILLION
AMERICANS ARE GOING TO COME
NEWLY ON THE ROLLS AND THEY'RE
GOING TO CARRY A CARD AROUND
THAT PAYS LESS THAN WHAT THE
DOCTOR CAN AFFORD TO ACCEPT TO
EVEN COVER THE COST OF THAT CARE
AND OTHERWISE GO OUT OF
BUSINESS, WHAT'S THE CHANCE
THEY'RE GOING TO FIND DOCTORS?
SO WHAT WE'LL HAVE A A DROP IN
THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS, A
STEEP RISE IN THE DEMAND IN
HEALTH CARE AND SO THESE PEOPLE
WILL ALL END UP IN EMERGENCY
ROOMS.
TO MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S ONE THING
TO HAVE COVERAGE IN HEALTH CARE,
IT'S ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER TO
HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE
SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE, GREAT
BRITAIN, CANADA AND MANY OTHERS,
AND EVEN GO TO THE EXTREME STEPS
OF CUBA AND NORTH KOREA.
THEY ALL HAVE COVERAGE AND IT'S
FREE.
THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NO
ACCESS TO IT.
THERE'S SHORTAGES.
THERE ARE WAITING TIMES, AS MUCH
AS A YEAR OR TWO YEARS TO GET A
C.T. SCAN.
PEOPLE ARE DYING AS A RESULT OF
THAT AND THEY SHOW UP IN THEIR
STATISTICS.
THE DEATH RATES, FOR INSTANCE,
FROM BREAST CANCER AND PROSTATE
CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES ARE
MUCH LOWER THAN THEY ARE IN
CANADA AND GREAT BRITAIN.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME
MEDICATIONS AND THE SAME QUALITY
PHYSICIANS.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THEIR
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS THEMSELVES.
SO LET'S GET BACK AGAIN.
I WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THIS
TOPIC FOR A MOMENT BEFORE I
YIELD TIME TO MY FRIEND.
AND AGAIN BACK TO THIS IDEA THAT
MANY OF THE TAXES ARE GOING TO
BE PLACED UPON THE WEALTHY
AMERICANS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR
OBAMACARE.
AND I'LL JUST STEP BACK THROUGH
THEM AGAIN.
THERE'S A 40% EXCISE TAX ON
SO-CALLED CADILLAC HEALTH PLANS
WHICH WOULD BE HEALTH PLANS
VALUED IN EXCESS OF $10,200 FOR
INDIVIDUALS, $27,500 FOR
FAMILIES.
THOSE THRESHOLDS WILL GROW
ANNUALLY BY AN INFLATION RATE OF
1% WHICH IS ABOUT 1/3 OR LESS OF
WHAT IT REALLY IS.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AS
AN
EXPENSIVE GOLD-PLATED CADILLAC
HEALTH CARE PLAN, YOU'RE GOING
TO GET TAXED 40% MORE FOR HAVING
IT.
WELL, MAYBE THAT'S JUSTIFIED.
BUT REMEMBER THAT AFTER A FEW
YEARS, THAT WILL NOT BE AN
EXPENSIVE GOLD-PLATED PLAN, THAT
WILL BE AN AVERAGE PLAN.
AND YOU WILL AGAIN STILL HAVE TO
PAY THE SAME 40% EXCISE TAX.
RAPID CREEP IS WHAT THEY CALLED
IT BACK SOME YEARS AGO AND I
THINK IT APPLIES HERE TODAY.
NOW, AGAIN, INCREASES IN
MEDICARE HOSPITAL INSURANCE,
THAT'S A PAYROLL TAX ON PEOPLE
WHO MAKE $200,000 A YEAR
INDIVIDUALLY, $250,000 AS A
COUPLE, AGAIN, ONLY APPLYING TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT
$200,000-PLUS RANGE.
AND THEN OF COURSE I TOLD YOU
THE 3.8% TAX ON YOUR INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE SOLD FOR THOSE WHO
AGAIN MAKE $200,000 OR MORE.
AND AGAIN WE GO BACK TO IT,
REMEMBER THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM
TAX, REMEMBER THE LUXURY TAX,
REMEMBER THE TAX THAT WAS PLACED
THE SO-CALLED WINDFALL
TAXES.
ULTIMATELY THOSE TAXES ALL FELL
TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND BELOW.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO WERE
BURDENED WITH THEM AND WHY MOST
OF THEM HAVE BEEN REPEALED AND
WE WOULD REPEAL THE ALTERNATIVE
MINIMUM TAX IF WE COULD FIND A
WAY TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT NOW
BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING AT A
LEVEL THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
REPEAL IT, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO, HERE'S THIS CHART WHICH IS
VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS WHOLE
DISCUSSION.
UNDER OBAMACARE THERE'S AN
INCOME THRESHOLD FOR RECEIVING
SUBSIDIES.
IF YOUR NUMBER IS JUST BELOW
$100,000 FOR A FAMILY OF -- A
MARRIED COUPLE, I BELIEVE THAT'S
A FAMILY OF FOUR TOTAL, IF YOU
MAKE LESS THAN $100,000 OR ABOUT
$95,000 HERE, YOU'LL GET SOME
KIND OF SUBSIDY BEGINNING IN
2012-2013.
HOWEVER, THAT SUBSIDY, THAT LINE
CONTINUES OUT ALL THE WAY
WELL PAST 2062 AND
BEFORE.
NOW IF YOU MAKE $90,000 OR LESS
THAN $90,000 TODAY, WITH
INFLATION IN THOSE OUT YEARS,
FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS,
30 YEARS, YOU WILL BREAK THROUGH
THIS THRESHOLD.
SO WILL YOU NOT GET THE SUPPORT
-- SO YOU WILL NOT GET THE
HEALTH PLAN.
SUPPORT AND THE SUBSIDY IN YOUR
YOU'LL GET IT EARLY SO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING.
BUT ULTIMATELY YOU'RE GOING --
THAT'S GOING TO BASICALLY GO
AWAY AND YOU WILL NOT GET THAT
SUBSIDY.
NOW, ALSO IF YOU MAKE $200,000
OR $250,000 A YEAR, YOU WILL BE
THE ONE PAYING IN FOR THOSE WHO
NEED THIS SUBSIDY.
BUT YOU SEE THIS LINE COMES
DOWN.
BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO MAKE $200,000
TODAY, IN 2022 THEY'LL STILL GET
A CHECK THAT WILL SAY $250,000,
BUT IT WILL BE MORE LIKE
$180,000 IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.
AND WITH EACH YEAR, IT RASH ETS
DOWN -- RATCHETS DOWN UNTIL
FINALLY YOU GET TO ABOUT 2042 OR
2050, IN THAT RANGE, AND SO A
CHECK TODAY THAT SAYS $200,000
ON IT WILL BUY EQUIVALENT TO
SOMETHING LIKE $90,000 IN THOSE
YEARS.
BECAUSE INFLATION DEVALUES THE
ACTUAL CURRENCY THAT YOU HOLD.
AND SO WHAT YOU GET IS A
CROSSOVER POINT WHERE YOU SEE
THE SUBSIDY THRESHOLD GETS
HIGHER AND HIGHER.
YOU GOT TO MAKE MORE AND MORE
MONEY TO GET THAT SUBSIDY.
BUT EVEN THOUGH YOUR INCOME IS
THE SAME OR GOING DOWN, YOU
ACTUALLY DROP OUT AND YOU GET A
CROSSOVER POINT, WHERE HERE,
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE MAKING
$200,000 OR $250,000, YOU'RE
MAKING TOO MUCH FOR THE SUBSIDY,
BUT YOU'RE NOT MAKING TOO MUCH
TO BE TAXED.
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
ULTIMATELY OBAMACARE OVER TIME
BEGINS TO TAKE THE SUBSIDIES OUT
FOR THOSE WHO ARE MIDDLE CLASS
AND LOWER AND IT BEGINS TO ADD
TAXES ON THOSE WHO ARE MIDDLE
CLASS AND ABOVE.
AND THAT IS VERY DESTRUCTIVE, MY
FRIENDS.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU END UP WITH
SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE AND THE
KIND OF SYSTEM THAT'S WORKING SO
POORLY IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO, WE STILL HAVE TIME TO
DISCUSS SOME OF THESE ISSUES
FURTHER AND I WOULD ASK MY GOOD
FRIEND FROM GEORGIA, DR.
GINGREY, TO ELABORATE ON SOME OF
HIS POINTS TONIGHT.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING TO ME,
CONTINUING ON THE -- ON THE
LINE OF REASONING THAT DR.
FLEMING JUST OUTLINED, TALKING
ABOUT NOT INDEXING THESE
BENEFITS FOR INFLATION BUT IN
FACT, ANOTHER THING THAT NEEDS
TO BE POINTED OUT IS THAT UNDER
CURRENT LAW, IN CREATING THESE
EXCHANGES IN TRYING TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED PAUSE
IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE TO --
IT'S NOT
AFFORDABLE TO THEM, WE, THE
TAXPAYER, ARE GOING TO
SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE
HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE STATE
EXCHANGES, EVEN IF THEY MAKE UP
TO 400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LEVEL FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT'S 85 -- THAT'S
$85,000 TO $90,000 A YEAR.
I THINK JOHN Q. PUBLIC KNEW
THAT WE WERE SUBSIDIZING FOR
PEOPLE MAKING UP TO $90,000 A
YEAR THEY WOULD BE APPALLED.
THE OTHER THING, JUST
CONTINUING WHAT MY FRIEND FROM
LOUISIANA WAS TALKING ABOUT,
IS, IT ALSO -- IS, IS IT -- IS
IT ALSO, THE LAW, EXPANDS THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM TO FORCE
STATE, SOME STATES DIDN'T PASS
-- IN PAST YEARS WHEN TIMES
WERE BETTER, WERE COVERING
PEOPLE ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM
MORE THAN 100% OF THE FEDERAL
INDEED SOME UP
TO 185%, MAYBE EVEN 225% OF THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
WHEN THEY COULD AFFORD IT.
BUT TO ACTUALLY SAY AT TIMES
LIKE THESE WE'RE GOING TO FORCE
THE STATES TO COVER UP TO 133%
OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL
WHEN THEY CAN BARELY AFFORD TO
COVER AT THE 100% LEVEL IS AN
UNFUNDED, AND PROBABLY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE, AND
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE
MR. SPEAKER, AS YOU KNOW
COLLEAGUES KNOW ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE, THAT WAS PART OF
THE ARGUMENT BEFORE THE SUPREME
COURT AS WELL AS AT THAT MORE
PUBLICIZED ARGUMENT AGAINST
REQUIRING INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE
IN COMMERCE UNDER THE RULES OF
THE COMMERCE CLAUSE.
SO THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, AND
AS DR. FLEMING POINTS OUT, MR.
SPEAKER, IT WILL BECOME MORE OF
A PROBLEM PAUSE IT'S NOT
INDEXED FOR INFLATION AND YOU
BEING
SUBSIDIZED.
I WANT TO GET BACK, THOUGH, IF
THE GENTLEMAN WILL ALLOW ME A
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO THOSE
FAILED PROMISES THAT I
DISCUSSED A LITTLE EARLIER.
THE REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE
POLICY REPORT FROM SENATOR,
DOCTOR, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON JOHN
BARRASSO THAT HE PUT OUT LAST
MONTH, WE GO STRAIGHT TO NUMBER
10, WE MENTIONED A COUPLE,
BROKEN PROMISE NUMBER 10, GET
THIS, COLLEAGUES.
AND THIS IS A QUOTE FROM
PRESIDENT OBAMA, OUR 44TH
PRESIDENT.
THESE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE ON
C-SPAN.
CANDIDATE OBAMA PROMISED TO
TELEVISE ALL HEALTH CARE
NEGOTIATIONS ON C-SPAN.
THE PROCESS THAT CREATED THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE PLAN
PLAGUED, UNFORTUNATELY --
WAS PLAGUED, UNFORTUNATELY, AND
IT WASN'T ON C-SPAN, WITH BACK
ROOM DEALS LIKE GATOR-ADE,
CUTTING DEALS WITH SENATORS
FROM CERTAIN STATE, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE A GENIUS TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT THOSE THREE STATES
ARE.
THE PRESIDENT INDEED EVEN
CONCEDED THE PROCESS, AND HE
SAID, LEGITIMATELY RAISED
CONCERNS NOT JUST AMONG MY
OPPONENTS, BUT ALSO AMONG
SUPPORTERS, THAT WE JUST DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S AN UGLY PROCESS AND IT
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A BUNCH OF
BACK ROOM DEALS, UNQUOTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE WERE A BUNCH
OF BACK ROOM DEALS AND I THINK
OUR COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE, WE
GOT A MEMO TODAY FROM MY
COMMITTEE, THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE, AND
PARTICULARLY THE SUBCOMMITTEE
ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION,
AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR
TWO YEARS, THE COMMITTEE
STAFF, ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
SUBCOMMITTEE OF OVERSIGHT AND
INVESTIGATION, TO GET
INFORMATION FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE ABOUT ALL THESE BACKROOM
DEALS THAT WERE CUT,
NEGOTIATED, DURING THE PROCESS
OF GETTING BUY-IN FROM STAKE
HOLDERS THAT EVERYBODY IN THE
COUNTRY WOULD RECOGNIZE.
NOW, I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS
OR SAYING THAT ANYBODY
NECESSARILY DID ANYTHING WRONG,
BUT YOU KNOW, I OWN AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION,
AMERICAN HEALTH INSURANCE
PLANS, AARP WHICH REMITS 37
MILLION TO 40 MILLION SENIORS,
ALL OF THESE ADVOCACY STAKE
HOLDER GROUPS WERE IN THESE
BACKROOMS AND PROMISES WERE
CHANGES IN THE LAW
, IN EXCHANGE FOR SOMETHING
SPECIAL FOR THEM.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
CONGRESSMAN FLEMING TALKED
ABOUT SAUSAGE MAKING AND THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, BUT THE
PRESIDENT PROMISED THAT ALL OF
THAT WOULD BE OUT IN THE OPEN.
INDEED, HE SAID IT WOULD BE
TELEVISED ON C-SPAN.
HERE AGAIN, THAT'S PROMISE
NUMBER 10.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE, THE OFFICE OF HEALTH
CARE REFORM, I THINK DEPUTY
CHIEF OF STAFF NANCY ANN DEPAUL
WAS DIRECTOR OF THAT EFFORT IN
THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE
DONE NOTHING, MR. SPEAKER, FOR
THE LAST TWO YEARS BUT STONE
WALL AND WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO ASK FOR DUMONTS OF
WHAT WENT ON BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, SO WE, THE PEOPLE, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, CAN UNDERSTAND
THOUSAND POSSIBLY COULD HAPPEN
AND WHAT NOW WE KNOW ARE THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
DR. FLEMING HAS POINTED OUT, IN
HIS PRESENTATION, IN HIS
SLIDES, IN PRART TODD TAXATION
NEW YORK REGARD TO PEOPLE
THINKING THAT IF THEY LIKE
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE THEY
COULD KEEP IT, ONLY TO FIND OUT
THEY CAN'T, WHETHER THEY'RE ON
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR WHETHER
THEY GET THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE
FROM AN EMPLOYER, OR WHETHER
THEY'RE WORKING AND PAYING $15
OR $20 A WEEK FOR A MINIMAL
COVERAGE PLAN THAT HAS
CATASTROPHIC PROTECTION, AND
ALL OF THOSE, WITHOUT WAVERS,
ALL -- -- WITHOUT WAIVERS, ALL
OF THOSE PLANS WOULD BE TAKEN
AWAY FROM PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH
THEY LIKE THEM.
AGAIN, THE PROBLEM IS
UNBELIEVABLE.
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE
UNBELIEVABLE.
WOULD THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
YOU BETTER BELIEVE
IT BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN.
BACK.