[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 25068-25069]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, fixing a system so badly damaged by decades 
of mismanagement and manipulation is not an easy task. It is no secret 
that health care is no exception.
  We are not doing it simply to keep us busy; that is, legislate on 
health care. We have a bevy of other backbreaking problems that have 
piled up over the past 8 years--everything from energy, to education, 
to Wall Street abuses--only to be passed on to this Congress and the 
Obama administration.
  Nor are we doing it because the health insurance industry wants us to 
do it; just the opposite. In fact, they are doing all they can to 
protect their reckless policies and raging profits.
  We are doing this legislating on health care because the American 
people demand that we do it. Families of all backgrounds and from every 
State are counting on us to act. Last November, it was one of the 
primary reasons they called on Democrats to correct our country's 
course.
  The American people are closely watching this debate. They are 
listening to the policies being proposed, and they can see the 
strategies employed toward those ends. They are watching, and here is 
what the American people are saying in response: Nearly two-thirds of 
them know Republicans are not working in good faith with Democrats to 
reform America's broken health insurance system.
  They are right. While we have made every effort to create a good bill 
that can earn the support of as many Senators as possible, Republicans 
have made every effort to stop any bill, regardless of what is in that 
bill.
  How do we know this? We know this because Republicans have offered no 
ideas for reform. We know this because while they talk in the abstract 
about proposals, they have yet to offer any of their own. But, most of 
all, we know this because Republicans say it themselves.
  In August, the junior Senator from Arizona predicted that almost all 
Republicans would oppose health insurance reform, regardless of any 
concessions Democrats made.
  Then the senior Senator from Oklahoma said--and I quote--

       I don't have to read it, or know what's in it. I'm going to 
     oppose it anyways.

  Then I opened this morning's Roll Call newspaper--this newspaper that 
covers Congress--and read a disturbing headline, one that confirms what 
nearly two-thirds of the American people already know and should 
convince the rest. It reads: ``GOP Launches Strategy to Trip Up Health 
Bill.''
  If Republicans truly want to legislate, shouldn't this headline read 
``GOP Launches Strategy to Improve Health Bill''? Wouldn't we all 
benefit from the GOP launching a strategy to strengthen the health 
bill? Wouldn't it be better for the millions who fear losing their 
health insurance, and for the millions who do not have any to begin 
with, if we would open the morning newspaper and read even this: ``GOP 
Launches Strategy to Contribute to Health Bill''? But, no, none of 
that.
  The truth is that they have no interest in improving or contributing 
to health reform and strengthening it or contributing to its 
improvement in any way. Instead, Republicans have one strategy--and one 
strategy alone--support the broken status quo.
  Republicans want to ``trip up'' our plan to protect what works about 
the system, fix what does not, and help the middle class get ahead. 
That is because they do not mind the fact that insurance companies can 
deny you coverage when you need it the most or because you have a 
preexisting condition, defined as anything from high cholesterol to hay 
fever to heart disease to diabetes.
  Republicans want to ``trip up'' our plan to stabilize health 
insurance for those who have it and help secure it for those who do 
not. That is because they think it is OK for insurance companies to 
raise your rates just for getting old or because your dad had prostate 
cancer or because you are a woman.
  Republicans want to ``trip up'' our plan to keep the insurance 
industry honest and to protect Medicare. That is because they support a 
status quo that forces families fortunate enough to have health 
insurance to pay an extra $1,000 or more every year to cover all other 
families who have none.
  Republicans want to ``trip up'' our plan to lower costs for families 
and make sure every American can afford good quality care that can 
never be taken away. That is because they simply do not have any ideas 
for helping the American people--even people in their own States--who 
are suffering so desperately.
  Republicans will do everything in their power to stop reform this 
time because for many on the other side, there will never be a good 
time to reform health insurance.
  That is not what our constituents sent us here to do, and that is not 
how to legislate.
  I spent this past weekend in Nevada and heard firsthand from people 
who are suffering. Today we learned our State's unemployment rate rose 
again. One example: It is not a bunch of people out of work or people 
who do not

[[Page 25069]]

have good jobs who are complaining about health insurance. I did an 
event in a hotel in Reno, NV--the largest and I think probably the most 
successful resort in northern Nevada. Of course, when I asked for 
questions, a number of the questions dealt with health care.
  As I walked out, the owner of the property walked alongside of me and 
said: Senator, I want you to know that other than my cost for 
personnel--my wages for my employees--health care is the one issue that 
is so hurting my business, health insurance for my employees. I am 
going to keep it, but it is so difficult for me to do so.
  Here is a man who has probably 1,500, 2,000 people who work for him. 
Think what it is like for someone who has 25 or 50 or 75 or 100 people. 
If someone who has the buying power of a couple thousand is having 
difficulty, think what it is like for people who do not have that 
buying power.
  So this past weekend in Nevada, I really did hear from people who are 
suffering. Today, we learned that our State's unemployment rate rose 
again--another tenth of a percent. That tells me we do not have time to 
waste with people looking to ``trip up'' recovery. Instead, we need 
legislators willing to work with us toward solving problems.
  Here is an opportunity. Republicans can show they are willing to do 
more than simply stand in the way. We are working this week to protect 
seniors' relationships with their doctors. One of the biggest fears of 
seniors is that their doctors will drop them, which is why we are 
proposing a bill to make sure doctors will continue to see their 
Medicare patients.
  This is a very serious issue. It is not one that is made up. There 
are ads running around the country today. There is one that says: ``If 
You Don't Pass S. 1776, Seniors Will Lose.''

       Seniors count on their doctors to get the care they need to 
     stay healthy. The Medicare Physician Fairness Act (S. 1776)--

  That is the legislation I am talking about--

     preserves the doctor-patient relationship and protects 
     seniors' access to their doctors. AARP is fighting to ensure 
     that doctors will continue accepting patients on Medicare.

  Ninety percent of AARP members agree with this. This is a real 
problem. Because of some of the things done with Medicare legislation 
in the past, a number of doctors have decided they cannot afford to 
take Medicare patients. This will drive another 40 percent of the 
doctors away from Medicare. It will destroy Medicare. So it is 
important we work together to get something done to take care of this. 
That is because the status quo simply will not work.
  We are working, as I said, this week to protect seniors' 
relationships with their doctors. One of their biggest fears is that 
their doctors will simply drop them, which is why we are proposing this 
bill to make sure doctors will continue to see Medicare patients.
  Republicans have come to the Senate floor numerous times in recent 
weeks to demand that Congress protect seniors. This so-called doctors 
fix that AARP is running the ads about is an opportunity for Democrats 
and Republicans to work together to improve Americans' health. This 
time it is seniors' health.
  The AARP has 40 million members. Nine out of 10 of them support this 
legislation--90 percent of them. I hope Republicans will listen to the 
very people whom they claim to defend and support--seniors.
  While, generally speaking, the Republican strategy is disappointing, 
to say the least, it is not entirely surprising. After all, one 
Republican Senator--I do not know if he is speaking for the entire 
Republican Senate--is on record hoping health insurance reform will be 
President Obama's ``Waterloo.'' Nor is it inconsistent with the 
obstructionist tactics that have denied and delayed so many other 
important efforts to address so many of our critical challenges.
  Democrats have been consistent in our efforts to reach across the 
aisle. In April of this year, just as the health care debate was 
beginning, I wrote my counterpart, Leader McConnell, to express my 
great hope that Republicans would work with us in this important and 
historic endeavor. We have an opportunity this week to fulfill that 
request I made. Here is what I wrote on that occasion:

       In order for this bipartisan process to take root, 
     Republicans must demonstrate a sincere interest in 
     legislating. Rather than just saying no, you must be willing 
     to offer concrete and constructive proposals.

  I concluded the letter by writing:

       I hope your conference will recognize that this issue is 
     too important to be manipulated for political purposes.

  So it is now about a half a year later. It is clear Republicans have 
not heeded our gesture. It is equally clear to the American people, 
two-thirds of whom readily recognize that Republicans have no interest 
in returning the favor--not in the least.
  As former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said a few days ago--and I 
quote--

       Sometimes people fight you just to fight you.

  That might be true, but it will not be tolerated. Congress will not 
be sidetracked by those who devise strategies only to ``trip up'' 
progress, rather than to contribute in good faith. This country has no 
place for those who hope for failure.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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