[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 24]
[Senate]
[Pages 32559-32560]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, Senators on both sides acknowledge 
that the health care bill we are considering is among the most 
significant pieces of legislation any of us will ever consider--I 
think, I would argue, the most significant piece of legislation 
certainly in my time here. So it stands to reason we would devote 
significant time and attention to it.
  Indeed, some would argue we should spend more time and attention on 
this

[[Page 32560]]

bill than most--if not every--previous bills we have considered.
  The majority, obviously, disagrees. Why? Because this bill has become 
a political nightmare--a literal political nightmare to them--as 
evidenced by more and more public opinion polls, including the Wall 
Street Journal/NBC poll out this morning. They know Americans are 
overwhelmingly opposed to it, so they want to get it over with as 
quickly as possible.
  Americans are already outraged at the fact that Democratic leaders 
took their eyes off the ball, rushing the process on a partisan line 
that makes the situation even worse.
  Americans were told the purpose of reform was to reduce the cost of 
health care. Instead, Democratic leaders produced a $2.5 trillion, 
2,074-page monstrosity that vastly expands government, raises taxes, 
raises premiums, and wrecks Medicare. And they want to rush this bill 
through by Christmas? They want to rush this bill through by Christmas 
that does all of these destructive things. One of the most significant, 
far-reaching pieces of legislation in U.S. history, and they want to 
rush it.
  Here is the most outrageous part. At the end of this rush, they want 
us to vote on a bill that no one outside the majority leader's 
conference room has seen yet. No one has seen it. That is right. The 
final bill we vote on is not even the one we have had on the floor of 
the Senate. It is the deal Democratic leaders have been trying to work 
out in private. That is what they intend to bring to the Senate floor 
and force a vote on before Christmas.
  So this entire process is essentially a charade. But let's just 
compare the process so far with previous legislation for a little 
perspective.
  Here is a snapshot of what we have done and where we stand on this 
bill.
  The majority leader intends to bring this debate to a close as early 
as this weekend--4 days from now--on this $2.5 trillion mistake. No 
American who has not been invited into the majority leader's conference 
room knows what will be in the bill.
  The bill has been the pending business of the Senate since last 
November--less than 4 weeks ago--but we have actually only started the 
amendment process 2 weeks ago--just 2 weeks ago on the amendment 
process.
  We have had 21 amendments and motions--less than 2 a day.
  So let's look at how the Senate has dealt with previous legislation, 
arguably of lesser consequence than this one.
  No Child Left Behind in 2001: 21 session days over 7 weeks, 44 
rollcall votes, 157 amendments offered.
  The 9/11 Commission/Homeland Security Act in 2002: 19 session days 
over 7 weeks, 20 rollcall votes, 30 amendments offered.
  The Energy bill in 2002: 21 session days over 8 weeks, 36 rollcall 
votes, 158 amendments offered.
  Now, Madam President, this is not an energy bill. This is an attempt 
by the majority to take over one-sixth of the U.S. economy--to vastly 
expand the reach and role of government into the health care decisions 
of every single American--and they want it to be done after one 
substantive amendment--one large, substantive amendment. This is 
absolutely inexcusable.
  I think Senator Snowe put it best on Tuesday. This is what she had to 
say Tuesday of this week. ``Given the enormity and complexity,'' 
Senator Snowe said, ``I don't see anything magical about the Christmas 
deadline if this bill is going to become law in 2014.''
  And I think Senator Snowe's comments on a lack of bipartisanship at 
the outset of this debate are also right on point. Here is what Senator 
Snowe said in November of this year--late November:

       I am truly disappointed we are commencing our historic 
     debate on one of the most significant and pressing domestic 
     issues of our time with a process that has forestalled our 
     ability to arrive at broader agreement on some of the most 
     crucial elements of health care reform. The bottom line is, 
     the most consequential health care legislation in the history 
     of our country and the reordering of $33 trillion in health 
     care spending over the coming decade shouldn't be determined 
     by one vote-margin strategies--surely--

  Surely--

     we can and must do better.

  Well, Senator Snowe is entirely correct.
  The only conceivable justification for rushing this bill is the 
overwhelming--overwhelming--opposition of the American people. 
Democrats know the longer Americans see this bill, the less they like 
it.
  Here is the latest from Pew; it came out just yesterday. A majority--
58 percent--of those who have heard a lot about the bill oppose it, 
while only 32 percent favor it.
  There is no justification for this blind rush, except a political 
one, and that is not good enough for the American people, and that is 
not justification for forcing the Senate to vote on a bill that none of 
us have seen.
  Americans already oppose the bill. The process is just as bad. It is 
completely reckless and completely irresponsible.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.

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