Floor Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
{11:09:08 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM IOWA.
MR. GRASSLEY: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK TO MY COLLEAGUES
AS IF IN MORNING BUSINESS FOR 30 MINUTES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. GRASSLEY: ON FEBRUARY 14, PRESIDENT OBAMA DELIVERED HIS
BUDGET TO THE CONGRESS. I OFTEN DESCRIBE TO MY CONSTITUENTS
THAT WASHINGTON IS AN ISLAND SURROUNDED BY REALITY. NOWHERE IS
THIS MORE APPARENT THAN WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FEBRUARY 14
BUDGET. IN PRESENTING AND DEFENDING HIS BUDGET, PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND HIS STAFF HAVE SAID HIS BUDGET -- QUOTE -- "LIVES WITHIN
OUR MEANS." AND AN ADDITIONAL QUOTE -- "THAT IT WILL NOT ADD TO
THE DEBT." AND AN ADDITIONAL QUOTE -- "THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
SPEND ANY MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE TAKING IN." WELL, OBVIOUSLY ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS STUDY THE BUDGET AND YOU COME TO THE
CONCLUSION THAT THESE ASTONISHING STATEMENTS DON'T EQUAL THE
FACTS. THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE RECENTLY PROJECTED THE
DEFICIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011, THE YEAR WE'RE IN, WILL EXCEED
$1.5 TRILLION. THIS IS ON TOP OF A TRILLION-PLUS DEFICIT IN
2009 AND 2010. TODAY OF EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, MORE THAN 40 CENTS
IS BORROWED. OUR COUNTRY IS ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE PATH. BUT YOU
WOULDN'T REALIZE THAT BY LOOKING AT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL. IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUS FISCAL CRISIS THAT
OUR COUNTRY FACES. WHAT IT REPRESENTS IS THE STATUS QUO. OVER
THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET ADDS MORE THAN
$10 TRILLION IN A PUBLICLY HELD DEBT AND $14 TRILLION IN GROSS
DEBT. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE ON FEBRUARY 14 THAT HE PUT BEFORE
CONGRESS A BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AND
NOT SPEND ANY MORE THAN WE TAKE IN?
DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, GOING UP TO 2021, DEBT HELD BY THE
PUBLIC WOULD REACH 87% OF G.D.P. COMPARED TO A 50-YEAR AVERAGE
OF 35%. ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE -- QUOTE
-- "IF THOSE TRENDS WERE TO CONTINUE BEYOND 2021, THE RESULTING
PATH OF THE FEDERAL DEBT WOULD BE UNSUSTAINABLE. IN FACT,
C.B.O. ESTIMATED THAT BY THE YEAR 2040, UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
BUDGET, DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC WOULD BE 117%. IS THIS
THE BUDGET THE DEMOCRATS WILL SUPPORT?
IS THIS THE FISCAL PATH WE'RE GOING TO ENDORSE?
WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA CLAIMS THAT WE'RE LIVING WITHIN OUR
MEANS, THE SMALLEST ANNUAL DEFICIT WILL BE $748 BILLION. HIS
BUDGET DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO PUT OUR COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT PATH.
THE FINAL THREE YEARS OF HIS BUDGET HAVE ANNUAL DEFICITS
TOTALING OVER $1 TRILLION. AS FORMER COMPTROLLER GENERAL DAVID
WALKER HAS STATED, OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES SUCH
AS LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, AND FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY. THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FALLS SHORT ON EACH OF
THESE THREE PRINCIPLES. IT INCREASES SPENDING. IT GROWS
GOVERNMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR ECONOMY. IT IS CLEARLY
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. AND BECAUSE OF THE LEGACY OF DEFICITS
AND DEBT, IT CREATES -- IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INFRINGE UPON THE
LIBERTIES OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN 2006, THEN-SENATOR OBAMA
ARGUED AGAINST RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT. HE BELIEVED AT THAT TIME
THAT THE VERY NEED TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT WAS A SIGN OF
LEADERSHIP FAILURE. BY HIS OWN STANDARD THEN, PRESIDENT OBAMA
IS NOT LIVING UP TO HIS STANDARD, SO IS THAT LEADERSHIP FAILURE?
WOULD HE ADMIT THAT TODAY?
HIS NO VOTE IN THAT YEAR WAS TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT NEEDING TO
GET SERIOUS ABOUT FISCAL DISCIPLINE. WE'RE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY. WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE THIRD
CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF A TRILLION DOLLARS OF ANNUAL DEFICIT.
DEFICITS HAVE GOTTEN LARGER, NOT SMALLER. NOW, OF COURSE, I
RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES WILL COME TO
THE FLOOR AND ARGUE THAT THEY SUPPORT THE POLICIES THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA PUT FORTH IN A SPEECH LATER ON -- I GUESS APRIL
-- AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE
DEMOCRATS, THE LEADER OF THEIR PARTY DOESN'T DELIVER SPEECHES
IN LEGISLATIVE TEXT. SPEECHES ALONE AREN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE
BIG PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE IN THIS NATION. WE NEED SERIOUS
SOLUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY'S VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. WE NEED REAL
LEADERSHIP. THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THIS COUNTRY SERVE NO
LESS, AND THAT'S WHAT HOUSE BUDGET CHAIRMAN RYAN HAS OFFERED,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE COLLEAGUES HERE ON OUR SIDE OF THE
AISLE LIKE SENATOR TOOMEY AND SENATOR PAUL ARE GOING TO OFFER
TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. WHAT HAVE THE DEMOCRATS OFFERED TO
ADDRESS THE LOOMING FISCAL CRISIS?
AND THE ANSWER IS NO RESOLUTION AT ALL. SO I HAVE A BLANK PAGE
HERE REPRESENTING THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NO PLAN WHATSOEVER.
ARE THEY GOING TO ALLOW A DEBATE SO THAT THEY CAN OFFER THEIR
IDEAS TO ADDRESS OUR FISCAL CALAMITIES?
WELL, YOU JUST HEARD THE SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA POSTULATE THAT
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT WE'RE HAVING A SERIES OF
VOTES, BUT THEY ARE FOR SHOW, NOT FOR REAL. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE SENT 53 DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS AND SENATORS HERE TO
WASHINGTON. A BUDGET CAN PASS THE SENATE WITH JUST 51 VOTES. IT
DOESN'T TAKE THE SUPER 60 VOTES THAT SO MANY ISSUES ON THE
FLOOR REQUIRE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO FINALITY. SO FAR, YOU
CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE SHIRKED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. NOTHING.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 750 DAYS SINCE SENATE DEMOCRATS OFFERED A
BUDGET. WHAT'S THE DELAY?
I WANT TO ASK THEM WHERE IS YOUR BUDGET?
I SUPPOSE THEY'LL ARGUE THAT OUR NATION'S FISCAL SITUATION
DOESN'T REQUIRE A BUDGET. OR PERHAPS THEY HAVE SIMPLY RUN OUT
OF IDEAS TO ADDRESS OUR DEFICITS AND OUR DEBT. ADMIRAL MIKE
MULLEN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, SAID EARLIER
THIS YEAR THAT OUR DEBT, MEANING OUR NATIONAL DEBT, OUR
CUMULATIVE DEBT, IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY. SURELY, THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WOULD WANT
TO PUT AN HONEST PLAN FORWARD TO ADDRESS THAT THREAT. THEY
DON'T EVEN WANT TO DEBATE A BUDGET. THIS EXERCISE IS A MOTION
TO PROCEED TO A NUMBER OF BUDGETS, NONE OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN
BY THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY. I GUESS THEY INTEND TO VOTE AGAINST
PROCEEDING. THEY DON'T WANT TO EVEN DEBATE A BUDGET. WELL, BY
THIS TIME, MOST OF THE TIME IN THE LAST 35 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD A
BUDGET THROUGH THE UNITED STATES SENATE. INSTEAD OF LEADING,
THEY WOULD RATHER DEMAGOGUE THE SERIOUS EFFORTS PUT FORTH BY
REPUBLICANS. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STAND AND DEFEND THE
DEFENSELESS BUDGET THAT THEIR PRESIDENT SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS
JUST THREE MONTHS AGO. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WRITE THEIR OWN
BUDGET. IT'S STILL BLANK. THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO VOTE TO
ALLOW DEBATE ON BUDGETS THAT WERE DRAFTED BY OTHERS. SO ARE WE
WITNESSING A LEADERSHIP FAILURE SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT SENATOR
OBAMA REFERRED TO IN 2006 IN HIS SPEECH HERE ON THE SENATE
FLOOR?
THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WOULD RATHER DEMAGOGUE MEDICARE THAN
PRODUCE AND DEFEND THEIR OWN BUDGET. I PRESUME THERE IS A LOT
OF SPEECHES IN THIS TOWN TODAY. DEMOCRATS HITTING THEIR CHESTS,
SAYING WE RUN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN NEW YORK STATE YESTERDAY
BASED UPON THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO KILL MEDICARE.
WELL, I WANT TO PUT FORTH THE FACT THAT IF YOU DO NOTHING AS
THE TRUSTEES HAVE SAID RECENTLY, THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY
MEDICARE IN NINE YEARS. I CAN PUT FORTH AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT IN
OBAMACARE, THAT BILL PUTS MEDICARE ON A PATH TO RATIONING OF
MEDICARE AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS THAT ARE GOING TO
TAKE MEDICARE PATIENTS. SO ALREADY MEDICARE IS ON A PATH TO
DESTRUCTION IF WE DON'T INTERVENE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT,
AND THE SOONER WE INTERVENE, THE BETTER, AND WE OUGHT TO BE
INTERVENING NOW IN A BIPARTISAN WAY INSTEAD OF ALL THE TALK
ABOUT PARTISANSHIP AND DESTROYING IT JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE --
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS CONGRESS WHO KNOW THAT MEDICARE
IS A PROBLEM, AND THE SOONER YOU DEAL WITH IT, THE EASIER IT'S
GOING TO BE TO DEAL WITH IT. MEDICARE IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
PART OF AMERICA'S SOCIAL FABRIC. IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THAT IN
1966, AND IT'S STILL THAT TODAY. AND I INTEND TO WORK TO MAKE
SURE IT STAYS TO BE A PART OF OUR SOCIAL FABRIC. IT'S A
COMMITMENT MADE TO SENIORS TODAY AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
SENIORS TODAY YET. IT IS A COMMITMENT MADE TO ALL FOR THE
FUTURE. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS STEWARDS OF THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM TAKE SERIOUS OUR CHARGE TO MAKE SURE IT
REMAINS FOR FUTURE SENIORS. WITH THAT IN MIND, I COME HERE TO
CALL OUT THE MOST DANGEROUS THREAT TO MEDICARE -- TO A MEDICARE
PROGRAM THAT WE FACE ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK. AND LET'S BE
CLEAR. IT'S NOT THE BUDGET RESOLUTION AUTHORED BY CONGRESSMAN
PAUL RYAN AND PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE MOST
SERIOUS THREAT TO THE MEDICARE PROGRAM THIS WEEK IS TO THOSE
WHO PROPOSE TO DO NOTHING OR OFFER NO PLAN WHATSOEVER FOR
SAVING MEDICARE. MR. PRESIDENT, DOING NOTHING IS THE MOST
SERIOUS THREAT TO MEDICARE. FOR ALL THE TALK ABOUT KILLING
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT, THE DEMOCRATS' DO-NOTHING BUDGET THAT I
HAVE HELD UP HERE SO OFTEN, THE DO-NOTHING BUDGET IS THE SUREST
WAY TO KILL MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT. THE FOLKS COMING TO THE
SENATE FLOOR WITH NOTHING IN THEIR HANDS BUT CRITICISM OF THESE
BRIEWGZ THEN ARE IRRESPONSIBLE. BY ATTACKING THE HOUSE BUDGET
RESOLUTION WHILE PROPOSING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, THE DEMOCRATS
ARE PLUNGING THEIR COLLECTIVE HEADS INTO THE SAND LIKE THESE
OSTRICHES SOMETIMES ARE DESCRIBED AS DOING. OSTRICHES ACTING
LIKE EVERYTHING WITH MEDICARE IS JUST FINE AND THAT NOTHING IS
A VIABLE -- AND DOING NOTHING IS A VIABLE OPTION. LET'S LOOK AT
THE FACTS. LAST WEEK, THE C.M.S. ACTUARY -- AND THAT'S A
PROFESSIONAL PERSON, THAT'S NOT A POLITICAL PERSON, BUT HE'S
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTUARY -- SUBMITTED HIS ANNUAL REPORT ON
FISCAL HEALTH OF MEDICARE -- THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. FRANKLY, HIS
CONCLUSIONS ARE VERY DISTURBING. THE ACTUARY CONFIRMS THAT THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM IS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING TO THE FEDERAL
DEFICIT. IT IS SPENDING MORE THAN IT TAKES IN, AND IT WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGHOUT THE COMING DECADE. THE ACTUARY
FOUND -- THIS PROFESSIONAL PERSON, THIS PERSON THAT IS THE
PRESIDENT'S ACTUARY, FOUND THAT THE MEDICARE WILL RUN OUT OF
MONEY BY THE YEAR 2024, FIVE YEARS FASTER THAN HIS PROJECTION
LAST YEAR. FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE REPORT ISSUED A
FUNDING WARNING SHOWING THAT THE MEDICARE PROGRAM IS TAKING A
DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF ITS FUNDING FROM GENERAL REVENUE,
THUS CROWDING OUT PROGRAMS LIKE DEFENSE AND EDUCATION. THE
SITUATION IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. IN 1965 WHEN MEDICARE WAS
CREATED, BABY BOOMERS RETIRING TODAY WERE THEN JUST TEENAGERS.
TODAY, WE HAVE 10,000 BABY BOOMERS RETIRING EVERY DAY, WITH
FEWER AND FEWER WORKERS PAYING INTO MEDICARE TO SUPPORT THESE
ADDITIONAL RETIREES. THE AVERAGE COUPLE TURNING 65 TODAY PAID
OVER $109,000 INTO MEDICARE OVER THEIR LIFETIME BUT WERE
RECEIVE OVER $343,000 IN BENEFITS. NOW, STOP TO THINK ABOUT
THAT. EVERYBODY WONDERS WHY MEDICARE MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE TODAY.
THE AVERAGE PERSON RETIRING TODAY HAS PAID IN $109,000 BUT WILL
RECEIVE ABOUT $343,000 IN BENEFITS. THAT JUST DOES NOT ADD UP
AS A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM. AND ANYBODY WHO SAYS THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MEDICARE, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF
ITSELF, WELL, YOU CAN SEE HOW MISLEADING THEY ARE. MEDICARE WAS
CREATED, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN -- THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN 1966.
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN LIVED TO BE AGE 70. TODAY, THANKS TO
INCREDIBLE ADVANCES IN MEDICAL CARE, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN LIVES
TO BE 79. THESE ARE THE FACTS. SO NOW, KNOWING THESE FACTS, IS
THE TIME FOR CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITY OF MEDICARE'S
FISCAL CRISIS AND NOT JUST RECOGNIZE IT BUT RECOGNIZING IT,
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PUT SIMPLY, MEDICARE IS UNSUSTAINABLE
WITHOUT SERIOUS, THOUGHTFUL ACTION, AND THIS BLANK SHEET OF
PAPER WITHOUT A BUDGET BEING OFFERED IS NOT A SERIOUS,
THOUGHTFUL ACTION. TO SAY OTHERWISE IS TO IGNORE THE FACTS AND
TO STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. THE RYAN BUDGET AS IT RELATES
TO MEDICARE HAS BEEN -- HAS HAD MUCH DISCUSSION LATELY. IT IS
SIMPLY A BLUEPRINT. A BUDGET -- EVEN IF THIS PAGE WERE FILLED
IN, A BUDGET NEVER BECOMES LAW, NEVER GOES TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES. IT'S A DISCIPLINE FOR THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES. IT DOES NOT BECOME LAW. SO ANYBODY THAT SAYS
THAT VOTING FOR A BUDGET IS VOTING TO DO SOMETHING TO MEDICARE
IS CRAZY. IT'S NOT EVEN BECAUSE ACTUAL POLICY, AS WE KNOW, IS
GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY OTHER COMMITTEES OTHER THAN THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE. IN THE HOUSE, MOST OFTEN THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE. IN THE SENATE, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE. THAT'S
THE COMMITTEES THAT WRITE THE BILL THAT YOU CAN SAY WHAT'S
HAPPENING OR NOT HAPPENING TO MEDICARE. ANYONE HERE TELLING THE
PUBLIC THAT IF THIS BUDGET BLUEPRINT IS ADOPTED, IT WILL BE A
LAW DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS. BUT
THIS VOTE ISN'T EVEN ABOUT A BUDGET BLUEPRINT. THE DEBATE THAT
WE'RE HAVING TODAY IS ABOUT A SIMPLE MOTION TO WHETHER WE OUGHT
TO EVEN DEBATE A BUDGET. IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE WILLING TO
PROCEED TO AN HONEST AND OPEN DEBATE, WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHERE
WE WANT TO GO WITH THE MEDICARE PROGRAM AT THAT TIME. IF THE
DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO PROCEED TO AN HONEST AND OPEN DEBATE,
WE COULD DEBATE STEPS TO SAVE THE PROGRAM. IF THE DEMOCRATS
WERE WILLING TO PROCEED TO AN HONEST AND OPEN DEBATE, WE COULD
HAVE AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS AS OFFERED. OF
COURSE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WILLING TO PROCEED TO AN OPEN AND
HONEST DEBATE. I AGREE THAT CHANGING THE NATURE OF MEDICARE IS
A SIGNIFICANT STEP. REQUIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE TEN YEARS AWAY
FROM RETIREMENT TO EXPECT TO PAY MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE IN
REQUIREMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN POLICY. IT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED, HOWEVER, THOUGHTFULLY IN THE CONTEXT OF MEDICARE'S
SERIOUS FISCAL DIFFICULTIES. THEY AREN'T GOING TO GO AWAY.
DESCRIBING THIS POLICY AS ENDING MEDICARE FOR SENIORS IS
IRRESPONSIBLE AND FACTUALLY FALSE. PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN THIS
TYPE OF DEMAGOGUERY ARE ENDANGERING COVERAGE FOR THE VERY
PEOPLE THAT THEY CLAIM TO SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO
PROPOSE NOTHING. WHERE IS THE DEMOCRAT BILL?
THIS IS IT SO FAR. A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER. PRODUCED NOTHING. I
HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE BUDGET
COMMITTEE. I KNOW HE HAS TRIED TO PRODUCE A BUDGET, BUT
APPARENTLY HIS LEADERSHIP THINKS THAT DEMAGOGUING REPUBLICAN
BUDGETS IS FAR MORE POLITICALLY PROFITABLE THAN STANDING BEHIND
ONE OF YOUR OWN PLAN, AND SO THEY HAVE SQUASHED ALL OF HIS
EFFORTS TO PRODUCE A BUDGET. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED INTO OSTRICHES WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING
MEDICARE, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A RECORD OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS TO EXAMINE. SO LET'S LOOK AT OBAMACARE. PASSED
SOLELY IN A -- A PARTISAN VOTE OF 2010. IT TOOK $500 BILLION, A
LITTLE MORE THAN $500 BILLION OUT OF MEDICARE TO FUND A NEW
ENTITLEMENT. SO MEDICARE'S IN TROUBLE. SO TAKE AWAY $500
BILLION FROM IT, START UP A NEW PROGRAM, DOES THAT SOUND
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?
I HAVE NO DOUBT SOME FOLKS MAY COME TO THE FLOOR TO ARGUE
MEDICARE SAVINGS EXTENDED THE LIFE OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. BUT
EVERY REPUTABLE SOURCE THAT HAS ANALYZED THAT CLAIM HAS
APPROPRIATELY TAGGED IT AS DOUBLE COUNTING. THE C.M.S. ACTUARY
THAT I'VE REFERRED TO IN THE PAST TODAY CONTINUES TO CALL FOR
SOME OF THE PRODUCTIVITY CUTS MADE BY THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR
HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL AS UNSUSTAINABLE AND UNREALISTIC. AND I
SAY -- HE DOESN'T SAY IT; I SAY IT, GOING TO BRING RATIONING.
SO DOWN THE ROAD WHAT SORT OF HEALTH CARE ARE SENIORS GOING TO
HAVE?
IT ISN'T GOING TO BE WHAT THEY KNOW TODAY. AND OF COURSE WE ALL
KNOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS FAILED TO RESOLVE THE SUSTAINABLE RATE
PROBLEM, GROWTH RATE PROBLEM WHICH IS A FORMULA FOR DOCTORS'
REIMBURSEMENT. SO THE PROBLEM OF PHYSICIAN PAYMENTS CONTINUE TO
HAUNT FISCAL FUTURE OF MEDICARE. IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING THIS
MEDICARE PHYSICIANS WILL FACE A 30% PAY CUT. IMAGINE THAT.
TODAY MANY MEDICARE PATIENTS ALREADY ARE BEING DENIED CARE AND
PERSONAL CHOICE THAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE THE A.M.A., THE
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, HAS SAID ONE IN THREE PRIMARY
DOCTORS IS LIMITING MEDICARE PATIENTS. AND MORE THAN ONE IN
EIGHT OF THOSE DOCTORS IS FORCED TO DENY MEDICARE PATIENTS
ALTOGETHER. OUR SENIORS ALREADY FACE THE PAIN OF A BROKEN
MEDICARE SYSTEM. YET, THE DEMOCRATS REMAIN OSTRICHES WITH THEIR
HEADS IN THE SAND BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MEDICARE SOLUTIONS THAT
THEY WANT TO OFFER. PERHAPS I'M BEING TOO HARD ON THE
DEMOCRATS. PRESIDENT OBAMA PERHAPS SPEAKING FOR THE DEMOCRATS,
OR PERHAPS NOT, HAS PUT AN OPTION ON THE TABLE FOR ADDRESSING
MEDICARE SPENDING. HE DID IT IN A SPEECH AT GEORGE WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY DECEMBER 13. NOW, OF COURSE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
VOTE ON THAT HERE TODAY BECAUSE SENATOR McCONNELL SAID
YESTERDAY YOU CAN'T VOTE FOR A SPEECH. BUT AT LEAST WE SHOULD
CONSIDER THE OPTION THAT THE PRESIDENT PUT ON THE TABLE. IN HIS
SPEECH, PRESIDENT OBAMA SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD CONTROL COSTS
ON MEDICARE BY TASKING THE INDEPENDENT PAYMENT ADVISORY BOARD
THAT WAS SET UP UNDER OBAMACARE TO DO EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WE
PROPOSED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN THE BILL WAS PASSED. NOW
YOU MIGHT ASK, WHAT IS THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY BOARD ON
OBAMACARE?
IT WAS CREATED BY THE DEMOCRATS' HEALTH CARE BILL. IT'S A
15-MEMBER PANEL OF UNELECTED ADVISORS THAT WOULD MAKE BINDING
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO REDUCE MEDICARE SPENDING WHEN
SPENDING IS PROJECTED TO EXCEED A CERTAIN LEVEL. EFFECTIVELY,
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS HAD THE FORCE OF LAW WITHOUT
CONGRESSIONAL INTERVENTION TO REPLACE THE COST -- TO REPLACE
THE CUTS THAT THEY MIGHT SUGGEST. AND THAT UNDER THE LAW WOULD
TAKE A 60% MAJORITY. AUPBD KNOW THAT -- AND YOU KNOW THAT'S
VERY DIFFICULT, TO GET 60 VOTES IN THIS BODY FOR ANY ONE THING.
THAT LAW SAYS THAT THE BOARD CANNOT MAKE DECISIONS THAT
DIRECTLY RELATE TO PREMIUMS, DEDUCTIBLES OR KPOEUPLTS THAT
MEDICARE -- CO-PAYMENTS THAT MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES PAY. IT
SAYS THE BOARD CAN'T CHANGE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR
MEDICARE BENEFITS. SO WHAT CAN THE BOARD DO, YOU MAY ASK. IT'S
GOING TO ZERO IN ON PROVIDER PAYMENTS, DOCTOR PAYMENTS. SO I
WANT TO REPEAT A STATISTIC I QUOTED EARLIER, BECAUSE AFTER THE
PAYMENT REVIEW BOARD GETS DONE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN
THE ONE IN THREE PRIMARY DOCTORS NOT TAKING MEDICARE PATIENTS
THAT PRESENTLY IS THE SITUATION. AND WE HAVE ONE OUT OF EIGHT
DOCTORS DENYING MEDICARE PATIENTS ALTOGETHER. IN OTHER WORDS,
THEY AREN'T GOING TO SEE MEDICARE PATIENTS. AND THAT'S TODAY,
AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE WHEN THIS PAYMENT REVIEW BOARD GETS
DONE. ACCORDING TO THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE, TODAY MEDICARE
ALLOWS MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO COLLECT 89% OF THE COST OF SERVICES
PROVIDED TO SENIORS. UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL, BY 2022,
MEDICARE PROVIDERS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO COLLECT 66% OF THE
COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO SENIORS. REDUCTIONS WILL CLEARLY
RESTRICT SENIORS' ACCESS TO THE QUALITY HEALTH CARE. SO LET ME
SUM UP WHAT WE DO KNOW ABOUT DEMOCRAT ACTIONS ON MEDICARE,
BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY ON A PATH TO DESTRUCTION. SO, OF COURSE, I
GET A LITTLE BIT UPSET WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE SAYING REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO AWAY WITH MEDICARE WHEN
IT'S PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF AMERICA AND WE WANT TO KEEP
IT AS PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF AMERICA, AND WE WANT TO DO
IT NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL PROGRAM, BUT WE WANT TO DO
IT BECAUSE IT'S TIED IN WITH A LOT OF CORPORATE RETIREMENT
HEALTH PLANS WHERE IT BECOMES A PRIMARY PAYER, AND THE
CORPORATE HEALTH PLAN BECOMES A SECONDARY OR ADDITIONAL PAYER.
SO, SUMMING IT UP BY SAYING THEY'VE ENACTED ALREADY $500
BILLION WORTH OF CUTS TO FUND A NEW ENTITLEMENT CALLED
OBAMACARE. MANY OF THOSE CUTS ARE DESCRIBED BY THE INDEPENDENT
C.M.S. ACTUARY AS UNSUSTAINABLE. THEY HAVE YET TO FIND A WAY TO
FIX THE DOCTOR REIMBURSEMENT FORMULA CALLED THE SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH RATE. AND STILL THE PRESIDENT HAS PROPOSED YET FURTHER
REDUCING PAYMENTS TO PROVIDERS. OF COURSE WHAT'S THAT GOING TO
DO WITH SENIORS OF AMERICA?
IT'S GOING TO REDUCE ACCESS. THIS WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR
SENIORS TO FIND PROVIDERS WILLING TO TREAT THEM. THIS WILL
PROVIDE -- THIS WILL DRIVE SOME PROVIDERS OUT OF BUSINESS, OF
PROVIDING SERVICES TO SENIORS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CAN'T
AFFORD IT. THERE'S ONE SIMPLE WORD TO DESCRIBE THIS APPROACH, A
WORD THAT I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. THE WORD IS "RATIONING OF
HEALTH CARE FOR SENIORS OF AMERICA." IT MAY NOT BE DIRECT,
OVERT RATIONING, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR HEAD BURIED VERY
DEEPLY IN THE SAND NOT TO REALIZE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
OUTCOME OF POLICIES ALREADY PUT IN PLACE BY THIS PRESIDENT
THROUGH OBAMACARE ON MEDICARE. AND THEN THEY WANT TO ACCUSE US
OF DESTROYING MEDICARE. SO, I GET BACK TOO WHAT TODAY -- I GET
BACK TO WHAT TODAY'S DEBATE IS ALL ABOUT. I THINK WE OUGHT TO
SERIOUSLY BE HAVING A LEGITIMATE FLOOR DEBATE RATHER THAN A
SERIES OF POLITICAL SHOW VOTES TODAY. I WILL VOTE FOR THE
SENATE TO BEGIN DEBATE ON THE RYAN BUDGET AND THE OTHER
REPUBLICAN BUDGE AS THEY ARE OFFERED, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO VOTE ON ANYTHING FROM THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE BECAUSE,
SEE, IT'S JUST A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER. THERE'S NOTHING THERE
THAT THE OTHER -- THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY. NOT THE MINORITY
PARTY; THEY ARE THE MAJORITY PARTY, HAVE SUGGESTED. I WILL VOTE
TO BEGIN DEBATE, NOT THAT I SUPPORT ANY OF THEIR BUDGETS IN
THEIR ENTIRETY, I WILL VOTE TO BEGIN DEBATE BECAUSE OUR FISCAL
SITUATION DEMANDS SERIOUS EFFORTS OR GIVING SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION. AND IN NO AREA, AS I'VE MADE CLEAR IN MY REMARKS
TODAY, IS THIS MORE CRITICAL THAN IN MEDICARE. BECAUSE MEDICARE
IS ON A PATH TO BANKRUPTCY. PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE MEDICARE
PROGRAM AND CARE ABOUT THOSE WHO WILL COUNT ON THAT PROGRAM
TODAY AND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME ARE WILLING TO PUT SERIOUS
PLANS ON THE TABLE FOR DEBATE. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
ENSURE MEDICARE SURVIVAL FOR FUTURE SENIORS. DOING NOTHING IS
THE WORST FOR MEDICARE. THE SUREST WAY TO KILL MEDICARE AS WE
KNOW IT IS THE DEMOCRATS DO-NOTHING PLAN. DEMAGOGUERY IS
IRRESPONSIBLE. SO I WOULD SUGGEST PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE
SAND AND JOIN A REAL DEBATE TO SAVE MEDICARE FOR THE FUTURE. I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.