[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 140 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      ENDING TAXPAYERS' CONTRIBUTION TO MEMBERS' HEALTH INSURANCE

  Mr. WOFFORD. Mr. President, I would like to close the week in this 
Hall, at least for me, with a statement before we complete our business 
here today that makes very clear what happened and what will happen to 
the amendment I proposed earlier this week that would end the 
taxpayers' contribution to our health insurance and our choice of 
private health insurance. It would end that so long as we have failed 
to take action to assure for the American people the kind of choice of 
private health insurance that we have arranged for ourselves.
  I offered that amendment because I believe it expresses a matter of 
basic fairness and common sense that Members of Congress should not 
take from the taxpayers the kind of affordable private health insurance 
that they will not guarantee for the taxpayers.
  Well, through a series of procedural ploys, Members on the other side 
of the aisle avoided a vote on my amendment. As the saying goes, ``They 
can run, but they can't hide.'' I intend to be back with this 
amendment.
  For the moment, we should, as we are now, go forward with the 
District of Columbia appropriations bill. It is necessary before the 
fiscal year ends today. So I have told the majority leader that I will 
not offer my amendment to this bill again now.
  As I said on the floor last night, it is not my goal to prevent the 
passage of a vital appropriations bill necessary for the District of 
Columbia or to prevent passage of Senator Cohen's amendment on health 
care fraud and abuse, which I strongly support and which is a key 
element of the health care bills that I have been crafting and fighting 
for, including the seven-point small first installment that I proposed 
to the majority leader and Republican leader some days ago.
  The majority leader, Senator Mitchell, has assured me that he will 
bring up a bill next week to which my amendment can be attached. I 
accept his assurance and I intend to take that opportunity.
  It does not surprise me that some Members of this body do not want a 
straight vote on my amendment. I know it is an uncomfortable 
proposition. It brings the reality of the health care problem very 
close to home. But it is not easy to explain to the people why Members 
of Congress have a wide choice of private health plans, guaranteed 
health insurance which the taxpayers help pay for, when they have not 
taken action to make that kind of coverage available to the people who 
pay those taxes and employ them.
  People think--and so do I--that Members of Congress should support 
the plan they live under or live under the plan they support.
  My amendment is not just a symbolic step. To me and to many people in 
this country, this is a matter of basic fairness--do unto others as you 
would have them do unto you.
  My amendment turns that self-evident truth into a reality. I know it 
is not popular in these Chambers. It was not popular when I introduced 
a bill to end the free care that Members used to get from the attending 
physician. But we did it because we discovered together that it was the 
right thing to do.
  There are Members of Congress who say doing nothing on health care 
will not hurt them at all, who have actually celebrated their success 
at blocking action for universal health insurance. I hope this 
amendment will help in a small way to show them that there is nothing 
to celebrate--not for the American people, and not for us.
  From this perch, it is easy to think everything is fine for everyone 
else when we have such a good, wide choice of health plans, guaranteed 
at work, and largely paid for by our employer--the taxpayers.
  In pressing this amendment, it is not my purpose to take away a good 
choice of health care plans and employer contributions for Members of 
Congress. But it is my purpose to see that that kind of opportunity 
which we have is at long last extended to all of the American people. 
If we put Congress, if we put ourselves, in the same boat as the 
American people, I think the need for action will suddenly become much 
clearer in very personal terms.
  We have seen it before. In 1981, Social Security was in deep 
financial trouble. In 1982, Congress included itself in the system. And 
the very next year, Congress found a way to come together to put Social 
Security back on a sound footing. I do not think that was a 
coincidence.
  I hope that people across this country will understand that, instead 
of taking an up-or-down vote on this very clear, common sense, fair 
proposition that I put forth, this Senate, so far, at least for today, 
is avoiding it. I think that is wrong. I think most people in the 
country think it is wrong. I think it is why so many of them are 
frustrated with Washington.
  One reason I feel confident that this step, in due course, sooner 
rather than later, is going to be taken by us is because it will be so 
difficult to look our constituents in the eye and with a straight face 
say that we are insisting upon our employer, the taxpayers, to 
contribute to most of our health insurance premiums while we are not 
willing to come together across party lines and work out a practical, 
common sense way to do that for the American people.
  So I will return with my amendment next week, and I urge all of my 
colleagues across party lines to support it.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania yields the floor 
and suggests the absence of a quorum.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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