[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H2175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DARK DAY FOR AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Yesterday was an historic day in this Nation. 
The problem for our citizens is that it was historically dark. Madam 
Speaker, it's raining in Washington today. It's raining because our 
Founders are weeping. Our Founders are weeping over the incredible vote 
taken yesterday that was an affront to federalism, an affront to 
individual liberty, and an affront to freedom. And it's distressing--so 
very distressing--to so many citizens across this land because they 
know there were positive solutions--there are positive solutions--to 
put in place as it relates to the challenges that we face in health 
care.
  As a physician, I know that when you put government in between 
patients and families and doctors, it is destructive--destructive to 
the trust that we hold dear in order to bring about the greatest amount 
of quality health care in our land. It was distressing on another 
avenue as well, and that is it was so hyper partisan--the hyper-
partisan way in which this vote passed. Madam Speaker, the bipartisan 
vote on this bill was a ``no'' vote. The vote was 219-212--all 
Republicans, joined by 34 Democrats, opposing the bill.
  In much of the debate yesterday, we heard about how it was being 
compared to Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965 and the 
momentous aspects of those votes. Madam Speaker, it's curious to note 
that on those votes, the House approved the Medicare bill in 1965 by a 
vote of 313-115, with nearly half of the House Republicans voting for 
it at that time. In the Senate, it was approved 68-21, with half of the 
Republicans supporting it. A major difference between that vote and 
this vote. Social Security passed the House in 1935 by a vote of 372-
77, with four-to-one, or 80 percent of the Republicans supporting it in 
the House, and 75 percent of the Republicans in the Senate supporting 
it.
  So, Madam Speaker, it is so distressing that this bill had to be so 
divisive--not just for this Chamber, but for our land. The American 
people are angry. And they're angry because they don't believe that the 
bill that was passed yesterday includes any of the fundamental American 
principles that we hold dear for health care--affordability, 
accessibility, quality, responsiveness, innovation, choices. All of 
those are things that we believe ought to be in place for health care 
in our Nation. All of them are violated by the bill that was passed 
yesterday and reportedly will be signed into law tomorrow by the 
President.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  March 22, 2010 on H2175 the following appeared: ability, 
accessibility, quality, responsive necessary, innovation, choices. 
All
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: ability, 
accessibility, quality, responsiveness, innovation, choices. All


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  Madam Speaker, the American people are angry. They want Washington to 
listen. They deserve Washington to listen. We are about to be a 
government that no longer has the consent of the governed. Madam 
Speaker, that's a very dangerous place to be. So I call on Speaker 
Pelosi and I call on the Democrats--the Democrats in charge in this 
House--to end the arrogance of one-party rule; end the tyranny of one-
party rule; end what Alexis de Tocqueville over 150 years ago said was 
the only threat to our Nation, and that is the tyranny of the majority. 
End the tyranny of the majority in this town right now.
  The challenges that we have in this Nation are immense, and they can 
be solved most beneficially, respecting our Founders and respecting our 
citizens, by working together positively in a truly bipartisan way and 
by listening and representing our constituents. I call on the Speaker 
for positive action for freedom and for liberty and for democracy.

                          ____________________