[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 155 (Friday, October 23, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H11729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest 
when our whip and the majority leader were talking a while ago about 
how they would like to work with us so we can reach some kind of 
agreement on the public option plan, the government plan. It brought to 
mind when President Obama came to our caucus, our conference, early on 
in his administration. He indicated he wanted to work with us and he 
wanted to have our input. He came with great fanfare, and the media was 
there saying here is this man, he wants openness, and he wants to work 
with the Republicans. This is the kind of President we need.
  He smiled, he shook our hands, he left the room and then wouldn't 
talk to us anymore. We have had absolutely no input whatsoever into 
this health care plan, and yet the facade has been created that we 
have. And they blame us because things haven't happened. It's because 
their own caucus can't get together on a plan.
  The American people know that there is chicanery going on behind 
closed doors. And they promised us we would be able to participate in 
the planning for health care reform. Yeah. That was a lot of baloney 
then, and it's a lot of baloney now.

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