Senate Session 2011 - 02 - 01 - 10 - 30 - 09 - 11 - 30 - 36

INTRODUCING WITH SENATOR BOB 10:45 EASTERN. CORKER THAT IS SET FOR ABOUT NOW THE U.S. SENATE ON C-SPAN2. O GOD, OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOUR MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. STRENGTHEN OUR SENATORS TO SERVE YOU IN FULFILLMENT OF THEIR SACRED COMMITMENT. LORD, GIVE THEM KIND THOUGHTS, DEEDS. GENTLE WORDS, AND GENEROUS TEACH THEM THAT IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. BETTER TO SERVE THAN BE SERVED. AND BETTER TO FORGIVE THAN TO BE BITTER. GIVE THEM SUCH GRACE THAT THEY WILL OBSCURE NO TRUTH, EVADE NO DUTY, NOR SHRINK FROM ANY SACRIFICE THAT WILL ACHIEVE JUSTICE AND PEACE. WE PRAY IN YOUR WONDERFUL NAME. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION TO THE SENATE. WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 1, 2011. TO THE SENATE: UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE JON TESTER, A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MONTANA, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE CHAIR. SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE, MR. PRESIDENT? PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. THE MAJORITY LEADER. NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. QUORUM CALL: MR. PRESIDENT? THE MAJORITY LEADER. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM BE TERMINATED. WITHOUT OBJECTION. FOLLOWING LEADER REMARKS THERE WILL BE PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 12:30 TODAY. SENATORS UP UNTIL 12:30 WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR 10 MINUTES EACH. AT 12:30 WE'RE GOING TO EACH HAVE OUR WEEKLY CAUCUS MEETINGS WHICH WE DO EVERY WEEK. AT 2:15 THE SENATE WILL BEGIN CONSIDERATION OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION BILL. SENATORS WITH AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL SHOULD CONTACT THE BILL MANAGERS. THE SENATORS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN VOTES ARE SCHEDULED. MR. PRESIDENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING THIS MORNING ABOUT THE OPINION OF A JUDGE IN FLORIDA REGARDING HIS OPINION ON THE HEALTH REFORM LAW. I WANT TO JUST MENTION JUST VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE LAW A LITTLE BIT AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE EFFORT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS THAT ARE IN THE LAW THAT IS PREVALENT IN THE LAND. THE HEALTH REFORM BILL HAS SAVED LIVES AND SAVED LOTS OF MONEY. IT'S SAVING LIVES BECAUSE CHILDREN NOT GETTING THEIR INSURANCE TAKEN AWAY AS HAPPENED BEFORE WE PASSED THE LAW. THEY CAN STAY ON THEIR PARENTS' HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN UNTIL 26. YOUNGER KIDS CAN'T GET KICKED OFF THE PLAN BECAUSE OF PREEXISTING CONDITION CONDITION LIKE ASTHMA OR DIABETES. OLDER PEOPLE ARE COVER, THEY CAN HAVE A WELLNESS CHECK FOR NOTHING. IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING MUCH WHICH MEANS AS FAR AS THE MEDICARE DOUGHNUT HOLE, IT MEANS THAT SENIORS CAN FINALLY AFFORD THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT THEY HAD TO SKIP OR SPLIT BEFORE WE PASSED THIS LAW. IT'S SAVING MONEY. LAST WEEK WE SAW HOW MUCH THIS LAW IS HELPING CUT DOWN ON FRAUD INDUSTRY. ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE WE'VE RECOVERED MORE THAN THAN $4 BILLION SO FAR AND THE LAW WILL KEEP CRACKING DOWN ON THOSE WHO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEVADA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THEY'RE CUTTING TAXES FOR BUSINESS HEALTH CARE. THAT'S GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES THESE CONSEQUENCES TO THE HEALTH REFORM LAW, I MENTIONED ONLY A FEW OF THEM, SAVES LIVES, SAVES MONEY AND SAVES MEDICARE AS WE ICEBERG. PROMISED ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE IT WILL DO EVEN MORE GOOD, EVEN MORE LIVES AND MONEY WILL BE SAVED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS CONTEXT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE OPINION HANDED DOWN YESTERDAY IN FLORIDA. TWO FEDERAL JUDGES HAVE RULED IN FAVOR OF LAWSUIT. TWO HAVE RULED AGAINST IT. LAWSUITS AND LAWMAKERS' EFFORTS TO REPEAL THIS BILL IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE TAXES ON SMALL BUSINESSES AT MORE THAN $1.05 -- ADD ADD $1.5 TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT AND LET INSURANCE COMPANIES STAND IN THE WAY OF A CHILD FOR MEDICAL CARE HE OR SHE NEEDS. WE'VE PUT PATIENTS IN CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH CARE. REPEAL WOULD PUT INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK IN CHARGE. WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. NOT WITH OUR WALLETS AND NOT WITH OUR LIVES AND HEALTH. LET ME SPEND JUST A MINUTE ON JOBS, MR. PRESIDENT. JOBS. THE HEALTH REFORM BILL IS ABOUT I WAS VISITING WITH SOMEONE FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN DEPARTMENT. THERE -- IN THEIR MEDICAL AND AS I WALKED IN, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH CARE BILL, WE'RE GOING TO HIRE 500 NEW PHYSICIANS. IT WENT BACK AND -- I WENT BACK AND TOLD MY STAFF THAT. THEY SAID, NO, THAT COULDN'T BE TRUE. I HAD MY STAFF CHECK WITH THE IT'S TRUE. WOMAN WHO TOLD ME THAT. THAT'S JUST ONE FACILITY. ALSO ABOUT JOBS. MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED TO LOOK TO FUTURE. DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING TO CREATE CLASS. JOBS AND STRENGTHEN THE MIDDLE WE'RE STARTING TODAY WITH THE CONGRESS. FIRST JOBS BILL OF THIS THIS BILL, WHICH WILL MODERNIZE AMERICANS AIR TRAVEL CREATES AND PROTECTS MORE THAN 280,000 JOBS. WE'RE IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCING COSTLY DELAYS. BILL OF RIGHTS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PASSENGERS THIS IS THE KIND OF COMMONSENSE SOLUTION THAT CREATES JOBS WHILE MAKING OUR ECONOMY MORE EFFICIENT WHILE MAKING AMERICA MORE COMPETITIVE. THIS IS A BIPARTISAN BILL. WE NEED TO START STRENGTHENING OUR FUTURE. WE'RE READY TO GET TO WORK TO GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND I'M HOPEFUL AN CONFIDENT OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN US IN STARTING WITH THIS JOBS BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY. MR. PRESIDENT? THE REPUBLICAN LEADER. MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NO SECRET THAT MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE THE HEALTH CARE BILL THAT DEMOCRATS SWAMMED THROUGH CONGRESS LAST -- JAMMED THROUGH CONGRESS LAST MARCH. IT'S ALSO NO SECRET THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO MOVE PAST IT. BUT THE FACT IS, THE MORE AMERICANS LEARN ABOUT THIS BILL, THE LESS THEY LIKE IT AND THE MORE URGENT IT BECOMES FOR THOSE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE IT TO FOLLOW THROUGH. OPPOSITION TO THE BILL CONTINUES TO BUILD AND WHEN TWO FEDERAL COURTS IN A ROW RULE THAT THIS BILL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND WE LEARN EVERY DAY OF SOME OTHER WAY IT'S NOT ONLY MAKING HEALTH CARE WORSE, BUT ALSO HURTING JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, IT'S NO WONDER MORE AMERICANS SUPPORT REPEAL THAN OPPOSE IT. AND THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO SAY THEY SUPPORT FULL REPEAL IS HIGHER NOW THAN EVER. AMERICANS ARE OUTRAGED THAT THE PROMISES THEY WERE MADE -- THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THIS BILL HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE EMPTY. COURT RULINGS LIKE THE ONE OUT OF FLORIDA ONLY ADD TO THE URGENCY OF SCRAPPING THIS BILL AND STARTING OVER. LEAVE ASIDE FOR A MOMENT ALL THE BROKEN PROMISES. THE FIRST REQUIREMENT OF THIS LAW OR ANY LAW THAT IT AT LEAST BE CONSTITUTIONAL. THIS BILL APPARENTLY FAILS TO MEET THAT BASIC TEST. AND AS YESTERDAY'S RULING CONCLUDED, IT CAN'T BE FIXED. THIS ENTIRE BILL HINGES ON ITS CITIZEN PURCHASE HEALTH CORE REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY INSURANCE. IF THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND TWO COURTS IN A ROW NOW SAY THAT IT IS, THEN THE WHOLE THING NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED. BUT, OF COURSE, WE KNEW THAT ALREADY BASED ON ALL THE OTHER CHAOS THIS BILL HAS WROUGHT. LET'S REVIEW. THE PRESIDENT SAID AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK THIS BILL WOULD SLOW RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS, THAT IT WOULD BEND THE COST CURVE DOWN, YET, JUST TWO DAYS CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND LATER HIS OWN ACTUARY AT THE MEDICAID SERVICES SAID THAT THE FEDERAL HEALTH SPENDING BILL WOULD RISE BY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL. THE PRESIDENT SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT AMERICANS WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP THE PLAN THEY HAD, YET, AGAIN THIS BILL'S PASSAGE, BUSINESS AFTER BUSINESS HAS ANNOUNCED IT WOULD RATHER PAY A FINE TO THE GOVERNMENT THAN COVER THE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS TO EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD GROW UNDER THE NEW MANDATES AND REGULATIONS AND MILLIONS OF SENIORS ARE EXPECTED TO LOSE ACCESS TO COMAIR ADVANTAGE PLANS THEY KNOW -- MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS THEY KNOW AND LIKE. LAST WEEK THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS LAW WILL LOWER PREMIUMS, SINCE ITS PASSAGE WE HEAR THE OPPOSITE. INSURERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE RAISING PREMIUMS TO COVER THE COSTS OF ALL THE NEW MANDATES THEY'LL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH. ONE INSURER IN CALIFORNIA RECENTLY STUNNED POLICYHOLDERS BY ANNOUNCING IT WOULD BE INCREASING RATES BY AS MUCH AS 59% FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS STARTING NEXT MONTH. HIKES ARE ALSO EXPECTED IN IOWA, VERMONT, AND CONNECTICUT. IN WASHINGTON STATE ONE FATHER OF FIVE WAS RECENTLY TOLD HIS HIS $535 MONTHLY PREMIUM COULD NEARLY TRIPLE NEXT YEAR. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE HEARD THE NEWS, HE JUST SAT BACK AND SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. IT'S A GOOD WAY TO SUM UP HOW MANY AMERICANS HAVE FELT ABOUT THIS BILL ALL ALONG. AND THAT'S TO SAY NOTHING OF THE EFFECT THIS BILL HAS HAD ON THE ECONOMY AND JOBS. DESPITE EMPTY PROMISES WE'VE HEARD FROM POLITICIANS ABOUT THIS BILL BEING A JOB CREATOR, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR JUST THE OPPOSITE FROM BUSINESSES THEMSELVES. JOB CREATORS ARE TELLING US THAT ALL OF THE BILLS NEW MANDATES AND FEESAND FEES ARE STIFLING BUSINESSES AND MAKE IT EVEN HARDER ARE FOR THEM TO START HIRING AGAIN. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SAYS THAT IF IT BILL STAYS IN TACT, IT WILL STIFLE THE ABILITY OF BUSINESSES TO HIRE, GROW, AND INVESTMENT. SIMPLY PUT, THE NFIB SAID IN A RECENT LETTER, CONGRESS MUST REPEAL THIS BILL IMMEDIATELY. TO TAKE JUST ONE EXAMPLE, ABBOTT LABORATORIES SAID LAST WEEK IT PLANS TO CUT NEARLY 2,000 JOBS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY INCLUDING THIS BILL. AND AS I SAID, YESTERDAY RULING OUT OF FLORIDA ONLY ADDS TO THE URGENCY OF REPEAL. IF IT WEREN'T ENOUGH THAT THIS BILL INCREASES HEALTH CARE COSTS, INCREASES INSURANCE PREMIUMS AN LEAVING PEOPLE TO LOSE COVERAGE THEY ALREADY HAVE AND LIKE, IT'S ALSO UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SOMETHING THAT MANY OPPONENTS OF THE BILL, INCLUDING ME, HAVE BEEN ARGUING ALL ALONG. THE STATE CAN NO MORE COMPEL AMERICANS TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION THAN IT CAN COMPEL THEM TO BUY VITAMINS. EVEN IF IT CONCLUDED THEY'D BE GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH. WHILE CONGRESS MAY HAVE THE POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, NO COURT IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY HAS EVER INTERPRETED THAT TO MEAN THAT CONGRESS CAN REGULATE COMMERCIAL INACTIVITY. CONGRESS'S REGULATING COMMERCIAL INACTIVITY AS WELL WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT THE HEALTH CARE BILL WOULD DO. MOST AMERICANS HAVE OPPOSED THIS BILL FROM THE START BECAUSE THEY WERE SKEPTICAL OF ALL THE CLAIMS BEING MADE ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD DO. THE PROCESS USED TO JAM IT THROUGH MADE IT EVEN LESS POPULAR. BUT THE REALITY HAS BEEN EVEN WORSE THAN PEOPLE FEARED. IT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION IT. WHICH IS REASON ENOUGH TO REPEAL IT'S DRIVING UP PREMIUMS, INCREASING COSTS AND DRIVING PEOPLE OFF THE PLANS THEY HAD AND AMERICANS ARE JUST AS OUTRAGED BY THE SPECIAL WAIVERS THE ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING OUT TO SELECT GROUPS. IT WAS A BY THE SPECIAL DEALS -- I MEAN THE SELECT WAIVERS ARE REMINISCENT OF THE SPECIAL DEALS THAT WERE MADE, MR. PRESIDENT, FIRST PLACE. TO GET THIS BILL PASSED IN THE IN OTHER WORDS, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL IS NO BETTER THAN THE PROCESS USED TO PASS IT. AT THIS POINT IT WOULD BE A DERELICTION OF DUTY IT REPUBLICANS DIDN'T FIGHT FOR REPEAL. WE MADE A PROMISE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE WOULD VOTE TO REPEAL THIS BILL ON THEIR BEHALF AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. THE IMPORTANCE OF A REPEAL VOTE BECOMES MORE EVIDENT EVERY DAY. AMERICANS VIEW IT AS AN IMPORTANT DECISION POINT, A MARKER THAT SHOWS WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT A RETURN TO LIMITED GOVERNMENT. ON THAT POINT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR WHERE REPUBLICANS STAND. EVERY ONE OF US VOTED AGAINST THE BILL. EVERY ONE OF US VOTED FOR REPEAL AFTER THAT. AND THIS WEEK EVERY REPUBLICAN REAFFIRMED HIS OR HER COMMITMENT TO DO SO AGAIN. DEMOCRATS MADE A LOT OF PROMISES ABOUT THIS BILL. VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE HAS PROVED TO BE EMPTY. REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE ONE PROMISE: THAT WE WOULD WORK TO REPEAL IT AND REPLACE IT WITH COMMONSENSE REFORMS THAT LOWER COSTS, PROTECT JOB CREATION AND THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT. IT'S A PROMISE WE WILL KEEP. MR. PRESIDENT, ON ONE OTHER ISSUE. WE HAVE ENTERED OUR TENTH YEAR OF FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN, AND WE CAN NEVER EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE ENOUGH TO THE HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES WHO CONTINUE THE BATTLE THERE. MANY OF THEM, NEARLY WIST OF ALL U.S. FORCES IN THAT COUNTRY, ARE FROM UNITS IN KENTUCKY -- FORT CAMPBELL, FORT KNOX, THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD, THE MARINE CORPS AND THE RESERVES. I RECENTLY LED A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO THE REGION AND SPENT SOME TIME IN AFGHANISTAN TO SEE UP CLOSE THE PROGRESS OUR FORCES ARE MAKING THERE IN CLEARING OUT THE TALIBAN AND CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES TO ASSUME GREATER RESPONSIBILITY. DURING MY VISIT, I HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING MANY OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS FROM KENTUCKY. I TOLD THEM THAT WE'RE PROUD OF THEM, WE SUPPORT THEM, WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN FROM KENTUCKY UNITS NUMBER MORE THAN 18,000 STRONG. THEY HAVE SEEN MUCH MILITARY SUCCESS, BUT IN THE PROCESS, MANY HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THEIR COUNTRY. THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION BASED OUT OF FORT CAMPBELL AND KNOWN AS THE SCREAMING EAGLES ENDURED A PARTICULARLY HARD YEAR, LOSING MORE THAN 100 SOLDIERS SINCE LAST MARCH. IN FACT, NEARLY ONE OUT OF FIVE AMERICAN LIVES LOST IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN LOST FROM THE 101st. THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO STOOD BESIDE THEM HONOR THEIR FIGHT. SACRIFICE BY CONTINUING THE AFTER A LONG DEPLOYMENT, MANY OF THE SOLDIERS FROM THE 101st ARE DUE TO RETURN HOME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. JUST AS THEIR BROTHERS IN ARMS FROM FORT KNOX ARE DEPLOYED. ABOUT 3,500 SOLDIERS FROM THE THIRD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION AND THE 703rd EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL ATTACHMENT WILL ARRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR ARE ALREADY THERE. IT'S THE BIGGEST DEPLOYMENT FROM FORT KNOX SINCE WORLD WAR II. HUNDREDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS FROM THE KENTUCKY AIR AND ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ARE PERFORMING CRITICAL MISSIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AS WELL. THE 123rd AIRLIFT WING, THE 2123rd TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, THE 20th SPECIAL FORCES GROUP AND A KENTUCKY GUARD AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAVE ALL RECENTLY SENT MEN AND WOMEN TO FIGHT, SOME WHO HAVE SERVED AS MANY AS SIX TOURS. IT WAS MY HONOR TO MEET SOME OF THESE BRAVE WARRIORS IN PERSON THIS MONTH WHEN I VISITED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE 101st AIR FORCE DIVISION AT BAGRAM AIR BASE IN AFGHANISTAN, AND ALSO DURING MY STOP AT CAMP LEVENNECK IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THAT COUNTRY, THE OUTPOST FOR A NUMBER OF KENTUCKY MARINES. THESE EXTRAORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN LEAVE THEIR LOVED ONES THOUSANDS OF MILES BEHIND AND PUT ON THEIR COUNTRY'S UNIFORM EVERY DAY WITH THEIR LIVES IN THE BALANCE. THEY HAVE SEEN THEIR FRIENDS AND FELLOW SOLDIERS AND MARINES MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, AND YET THEY FIGHT ON TO ACCOMPLISH A DIFFICULT MISSION, AND THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR COUNTRY, THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY AND THIS SENATOR VERY PROUD. WHEN WE HONOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, WE ALSO HONOR THEIR FAMILIES WHO ENDURE THE LONG MONTHS WITH A LOVED ONE GONE AND IN HARM'S WAY. THIS COUNTRY WOULD NOT HAVE THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE IN THE WORLD WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICE AND SUPPORT AS WELL. ITS -- IT'S BRAVE SERVICE MEMBERS LIKE THE ONES I GOT TO MEET WHO KEEP THIS COUNTRY FREE. WHEN BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MET IN JOINT SESSION RECENTLY TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, WE DID SO UNDER THE CLOAK OF FREEDOM THAT THESE HEROES PROVIDE. AMERICA IS GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND FOR THEIR SACRIFICE. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR. THE LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED. UNDER A PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 12:30 P.M. WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT? THE SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY WITH THE SENATOR FROM MISSOURI, MY FRIEND, CLAIRE MCCASKILL. WE TODAY ARE INTRODUCING A BILL CALLED THE COMMITMENT TO ACT. AMERICAN PROSPERITY ACT, THE CAP IT IS A 10-PAGE BILL DESIGNED TO LIMIT SPENDING HERE IN WASHINGTON AND SET OUR COUNTRY BACK ON A SUSTAINABLE FISCAL PATH. MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE COSPONSORS IN SENATOR ALEXANDER, SENATOR BURR, SENATOR McCAIN, SENATOR ISAKSON, SENATOR CHAMBLISS, SENATOR INHOFE AND SENATOR KIRK, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR JOINING US IN THIS EFFORT, AND I HOPE THAT MANY MORE WILL DO THE SAME. MR. PRESIDENT, I SPENT A LIFETIME IN BUSINESS AND I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE NOT TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN MESSAGING, BUT TO SOLVE OUR COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE TREMENDOUS FISCAL AND FINANCIAL COUNTRY. ISSUES TO DEAL WITH IN THIS THIS MORNING, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT 3 SENATORS MET OVER AT THE VISITOR'S CENTER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY TALKING ABOUT THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO AS FAR AS THE RUINATION OF OUR FISCAL SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR ABILITY TO BORROW MONEY AT LOW RATES AS WE ARE TODAY, AND ALL OF US KNOW WHAT THAT WILL MEAN TO CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW PROBLEMATIC OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IS. I KNOW THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE JUST SAID THAT THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HAVE $1.5 TRILLION IN BUDGET DEFICITS, AND I THINK ALL OFS -- OF US, EVERYONE IN THIS BODY IS VERY AWARE WE CANNOT CONTINUE FOR THAT REASON, SENATOR ON. MCCASKILL AND I HAVE CRAFTED A 10-PAGE BILL. IT'S A VERY SIMPLE BILL. IT DOES A LOT IN IT, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF WHEREASES. ITS PURPOSE IS TO DO TWO THINGS. ONE IS TO CAP SPENDING RELATIVE TO OUR ECONOMY. MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMIES AND COUNTRIES OF THIS WORLD, PEOPLE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT THEIR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS DO RELATIVE TO THEIR ECONOMIC OUTPUT. I KNOW SENATOR MCCASKILL'S HUSBAND IS A BUSINESSMAN, AND WHEN HE LOOKS AT THE AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT HE HAS IN HIS COMPANY, HE LOOKS AT THAT IN RELATION TO THE REVENUES OF THAT COMPANY AND THE AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT HE HAS IN HIS ABILITY TO PAY THAT DEBT. THAT'S THE WAY THE WORLD LOOKS AT THE HEALTH OF COUNTRIES. MR. PRESIDENT, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THIS IS THE POST ENTITLEMENT PERIOD, OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN SPENDING 20.6% OF OUR COUNTRY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OR ECONOMIC OUTPUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I THINK, MR. PRESIDENT, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WAY ABOVE THAT NUMBER, AT OVER 24%. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, AGAIN, NOT TO TRY TO CREATE SOME MESSAGING TOOL BUT TO REALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, SENATOR MCCASKILL AND I HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE NORM OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD, ON A GLIDE PATH THAT TAKES US BACK TO FISCAL HEALTH AND TAKES US BACK TO THAT 20.6% OF OUR ECONOMY BEING SPENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WHAT IT DOES IS IT DOES A MULTIYEAR AVERAGING SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ECONOMIC DIFFERENTIALS DON'T CREATE VOLATILITY SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE TARGETS ARE IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN GO ABOUT OUR WORK IN APPROPRIATIONS IN A VERY METHODICAL AND THOUGHTFUL WAY. MR. PRESIDENT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT CREATES SOMETHING CALLED SEQUESTRATION. WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF CONGRESS DOES NOT HAVE THE COURAGE -- WHICH WE RECENTLY HAVE NOT SHOWN -- IF CONGRESS DOES NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THINGS THAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE CUTS TO LIVE WITHIN THIS GLIDE PATH THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT, THEN SEQUESTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE. THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AT 45 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE NOT DONE THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THIS GLIDE PATH, THEN THEY WILL ON A PRO RATA BASIS TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE ACCOUNTS OF BOTH MANDATORY AND NONMANDATORY SPENDING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT COMES UP, IT WOULD TAKE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE BY BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS TO OVERCOME THOSE SPENDING LIMITS. MR. PRESIDENT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, THE FIRST TIME IN THE ENTITLEMENT ERA THAT WE HAVE EVER TRIED TO PUT IN PLACE A TOTAL SPENDING LIMIT ON GOVERNMENT. SO MANY OF US AROUND HERE TALK ABOUT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, AND I THINK ALL OF US KNOW THAT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IS ONLY -- IS LESS THAN A THIRD OF ALL FEDERAL SPENDING, AND I THINK ALL OF US KNOW THAT IF WE DON'T REDESIGN THE PROGRAMS, THE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF OUR SPENDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEN THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO DEAL APPROPRIATELY WITH THIS. SO FOR THIS REASON, THIS BILL WOULD KICK IN -- IF IMPLEMENTED, WOULD KICK IN IN 2013, GIVING US TIME TO REDESIGN THE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT SENIORS HAVE THE BENEFITS THAT THEY NEED. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE WOULD BE PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE IN A GLOBAL OR COMPREHENSIVE WAY AS WE LOOKED AT THE FEDERAL BUDGET. I WILL CLOSE BY THIS. MR. PRESIDENT, SIMPLY, THIS BILL WILL CAUSE US TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS. IT WILL MAKE US AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG -- BY THE WAY, MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THE PROBLEM WE FIND OURSELVES IN TODAY IS NOT A REPUBLICAN PROBLEM OR A DEMOCRATIC PROBLEM. BOTH PARTIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, BUT WHAT THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE US TO DO IS TO SET PRIORITIES. IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO ENSURE THAT PROGRAMS ARE BEING RUN AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW OUR MAIN COSPONSOR, SENATOR MCCASKILL, HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT WASTE AND ABUSE WITHIN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND, MR. PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS BILL IS IF YOU WANT TO LIMIT SPENDING RELATIVE TO THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC OUTPUT, THEN IT'S OBVIOUSLY EASIER TO DO SO IF THE ECONOMY IS GROWING. SO WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS MEAN THAT BOTH PARTIES WOULD BE JOINED AT THE HIP TO PUT IN PLACE POLICIES THAT PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH. MR. PRESIDENT, AGAIN, I CLOSE BY SAYING THAT I THANK SENATOR MCCASKILL FOR HER COURAGE IN STEPPING FORTHWITH ME AND OTHERS ON THIS BILL. IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT WOULD JOIN IN THIS EFFORT. AGAIN, THIS IS BEING PUT FORTH AS A SERIOUS BILL. IT'S A BILL THAT HAS NO IDEOLOGY BASE, SIMPLY A BILL TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. WE'RE GOING TO A 40-YEAR AVERAGE OF SPENDING RELATIVE TO OUR COUNTRY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK BOTH OF US KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD THE COURAGE IN RECENT TIMES TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS, TO SET PRIORITIES AS THEY NEED TO BE SET, AND I THINK THIS BILL IS SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE US TOWARDS THAT END. WE HAVE A VERY MONUMENTAL VOTE THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS YEAR REGARDING THE DEBT CEILING, AND I THINK ALL OF US KNOW THAT -- THAT IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE PRIOR TO THAT DEBT CEILING, AND SO, MR. PRESIDENT, WE OFFER THIS BILL AS A RESPONSIBLE WAY TO PUT US ON A GLIDE PATH TOWARDS A PLACE THAT IS REASONABLE FOR THIS COUNTRY, GIVING US TIME TO REDESIGN THE PROGRAMS THAT NEED TO BE REDESIGNED, AND IT'S MY HOPE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THIS BILL OR SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE WILL PASS PRIOR TO THIS DEBT CEILING VOTE. IT'S ALSO MY HOPE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WE'LL ALREADY GO -- WE WILL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON ACTUAL CUTS TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET PRIOR TO THAT TIME SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THE MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD AND SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE WHAT I THINK IS OUR MOST PRESSING DOMESTIC ISSUE, AND THAT IS GETTING OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER. WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. I WANT TO THANK AGAIN SENATOR MCCASKILL. SHE HAS BEEN A LEADER ON FISCAL ISSUES SINCE SHE HAS BEEN HERE, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR TO HER AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE ON THIS ISSUE, AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS AND OUR STAFFS DETAILS. HAVE BEEN HAMMERING OUT THE I THINK THAT THIS MOMENT THIS MORNING -- IN FACT, I WILL BE VERY CANDID. AS I LEFT MY OFFICE, SOME MEMBERS OF MY STAFF SAID WELL, OKAY, GOOD LUCK WALKING THAT PLANK. WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORK OUT FOR YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS POLITICALLY RISKY, WHAT THE SENATOR AND I ARE TRYING TO DO. AND AS I WAS RIDING OVER HERE ON THE TRAM TO MAKE THIS SPEECH, I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM ONE OF MY KIDS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME WHAT THIS IS LIKE. THIS IS LIKE SAYING NO WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT. AND IT IS SO EASY TO SAY YES TO YOUR KIDS. WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING, WHEN THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS RISKY, THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO DO IS TO SAY YES. WHEN THEY WANT MONEY, WHEN THEY WANT TO HAVE A NEW CAR WHEN THEY WANT TO BORROW YOUR CAR, WHEN THEY WANT TO GO SPEND THE NIGHT AT A FRIEND'S THAT YOU DON'T KNOW VERY WELL, WHEN THEY WANT TO STAY OUT LATER, WHEN THEY WANT THIS, THAT, THEY WANT TO GO TO THE MALL. IT'S SO EASY TO SAY YES. IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME. MAKES THEM HAPPY. YOU FEEL GOOD. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THAT VOICE IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS, IF I'M GOING TO BE A GOOD PARENT, SOMETIMES IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO SAY NO. WELL, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN CONGRESS THAT HAVE MADE A LIFETIME CAREER OF SAYING YES. I UNDERSTAND IT. YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, WE RUN FOR OFFICE AROUND HERE. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY WITH US. WE WANT EVERYONE TO LOVE US. ANYONE. WE DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE. CONTROVERSY? SO HOW DO WE AVOID THE WE SAY YES. WE SAY YES. AND WE'VE SAID YES AND YES AND YES AND YES AND YES AND YES AND YES UNTIL WE FIND OURSELVES AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY. -- HISTORY WHERE OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO SAY NO, OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE CONTROVERSY AND POLITICAL RISK HAS LED US TO AN ECONOMIC BRINK, A PLACE WHERE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE ANGRY, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME NEGATIVE ADS TO BE RUN AGAINST US, THAT WE REALLY ARE DOING OUR JOB AS STEWARDS MUCH AND THAT'S ALL WE ARE HERE. WE'RE PASSING THROUGH. JOBS. WE AREN'T ENTITLED TO THESE WE BORROWED THESE JOBS. PEOPLE. THEY BELONG TO THE AMERICAN AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS TO SAY NO NOW -- TO SAY NO. NOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I USED TO TELL MY KIDS, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO TELL YOU YES. AND THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S EASIER FOR YOU. EASIER FOR ME. I SAID THE RIGHT THING FOR ME TO DO IS TO SAY NO. THEY SAID, WELL, THAT'S NOT EASIER FOR US. AND THAT'S BEGINNING TO BE WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND HERE. I NOTICED SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, WE'RE GOING TO CUT, CUT, CUT. AND NOW IT'S BUBBLING UP, ALL THE PEOPLE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T CUT OUR SUBSIDY. CAN'T CUT THE OIL COMPANY PROGRAM. SUBSIDY, YOU CAN'T CUT THE FARM CUT THAT. YOU CAN'T CUT THIS, YOU CAN'T EVERYONE IS COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO PROTECT THE SPENDING THAT IS EMBRACED BY OUR BAD HABIT OF SAYING YES. THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS NECESSARY. THIS IS LIKE TELLING CONGRESS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE BETTER PARENTS. AND IF YOU CAN'T MUSTER THE COURAGE TO SAY NO, THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. IT'S LIKE A DISCIPLINE FOR US AND I DON'T GO HERE LIGHTLY. I DON'T GO HERE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICAL RISKS INVOLVED, BUT I GO HERE BECAUSE I DEEPLY BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE CANNOT GET CONTROL OF THE DEFICIT IF WE DO NOT CONTROL SPENDING. AND LET ME TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT DEBT AND DEFICIT. AS I GO OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USE THOSE TERMS, IN FACT, THEY USE THEM INTERCHANGED, THE TWO TERMS AND DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEBT AND THE DEFICIT. THE DEFICIT IS LIKE YOUR MONTHLY BUDGET AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO COME IN TO MEET YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE DEFICIT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE GOVERNMENT BRINGING IN AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING OUT? AND WHEN MORE IS GOING OUT THAN COMING IN, WE HAVE A DEFICIT. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT DEFICIT EVERY YEAR? IT GOES ON OUR DEBT. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY'S MORTGAGE. BUT INSTEAD OF US PAYING DOWN THE MORTGAGE EVERY YEAR, WE KEEP ADDING TO THE MORTGAGE EVERY YEAR. AND THAT IS WHY WE NOW HAVE A A $1.4 TRILLION, $1.5 TRILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH MORE THAN WE TAKE IN THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE $14 TRILLION IN DEBT. THAT'S THE LONG-TERM MORTGAGE OUR COUNTRY HAS RIGHT NOW THAT WE OWE SOMEONE FOR. WE HAVE TO PAY. DEBT. SO WE HAVE TO GET AHOLD OF THIS NOW, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THE SHORT-TERM SPENDING STUFF IS IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO COMPLEMENT SENATOR SESSIONS. HE AND I HAVE WORKED ON SHORT-TERM SPENDING CAPS FOR THE LAST YEAR, FOR OVER A YEAR. BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO LOOK AT LONG-TERM DISCIPLINE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET OUR COUNTRY ON A GLIDE PATH WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER PRECARIOUSLY ON THE EDGE OF BEING THE STRONGEST POWER IN THE WORLD. OUR DEFICITS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE AND OUR DEBT IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS BILL TAKES A VERY MEASURED APPROACH, GIVES US TIME TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. IT'S NOT LIKE THE RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL OVER IN THE HOUSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT $2.5 TRILLION THIS YEAR. ANYBODY WHO THINKS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, I'VE GOT LIKE A TU-TU TOMORROW. YOU NEED TO WEAR DOWN THE HALL THAT'S A RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. BUT THIS BILL, THIS IS POSSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE. THIS PUTS US ON A GLIDE PATH TO SAY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT OUR SPENDING IS GOING TO BE CAPPED AT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN THIS COUNTRY. OF OUR ECONOMY ACTIVITY THIS -- THAT IS POSSIBLE AND IT IS RESPONSIBLE AND WE SHOULD DO. IT. NOW -- DO IT. NOW, WHO'S TO BLAME? LET'S BE HONEST HOW WE GOT HERE. THE BIGGEST FACTOR IN OUR DEFICIT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS IS OUR POOR ECONOMY. I KNOW, I KNOW. STIMULUS. YOU WOULD THINK IT'S THE YOU WOULD THINK IT'S TARP. IT'S NOT. POLITICAL CHEAP SHOTS, BUT NOT TRUE. THE BIGGEST FISCAL HOLE THAT WE ARE FACING IS BECAUSE OF THE POOR ECONOMY. THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN SPENDING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WELL, YOU WOULD THINK IT IS THE AUTO BAILOUT OR THE BANK BAILOUT OR THE STIMULUS OR -- IT'S NOT. YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN SPENDING WAS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS? UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BECAUSE OF OUR BAD ECONOMY. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN SPENDING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. OUR FISCAL HOLE HAS GROWN PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF A BAD ECONOMY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. BUT THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN BAD DECISIONS BY BOTH PARTIES OVER THE LAST DECADE. WHEN CLINTON LEFT OFFICE, OUR DEBT -- HE MAY HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SURPLUS IN TERMS OF A DEFICIT, BUT OUR DEBT WAS $5.6 TRILLION. WHEN BUSH LEFT IT WENT FROM $5 $5.7 TRILLION TO -- AND TODAY IT IS $14 TRILLION. OVER THE PAST DECADE WE'VE HAD TO PAY FOR. TWO WARS THAT WE DIDN'T BOTHER A BRAND-NEW MEDICARE ENTITLEMENT, BRAND SPANKING NEW THAT WASN'T MEANS TESTED. WE'RE BUYING WARREN BUFFETT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. GO FIGURE. LIKE WE'RE BUSTED AND WE'RE BUYING MULTIHUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR BILLIONAIRES PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND WE DIDN'T BOTHER TO PAY FOR IT AND INCREASES IN DISCRETIONARY SPENDING BY BOTH PARTIES THAT INCREASED -- THAT INCREASED OUR DEFICIT AND EXCEEDED INFLATION. I WANT TO TALK A MINUTE FOR THE BOOGIEMAN OF THE TARP AND THE STIMULUS. I'M SO SICK OF BEING BLAMED. INCORRECT. IT IS SO WRONG AND FACTUALLY WE HAVE TAX CUTS THAT GO ON FOREVER THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. WE HAVE WARS THAT WE'RE FIGHTING THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. WE HAVE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T PAID FOR, BUT THE STIMULUS WAS A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT GOES ON. IT HAS NO TAIL. ANYONE WHO UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS AND UNDERSTANDS THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT KNOWS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT THE STIMULUS. ONE-THIRD OF THE STIMULUS WAS TAX CUTS. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, UNPAID FOR TAX CUTS WAS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. ONE-THIRD OF THE STIMULUS WAS TAX CUTS. AND ANOTHER ONE-THIRD OF IT ALMOST WAS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. AND TARP, LET'S BE HONEST, IT WAS A GENIUS DECISION IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE IT STABLIZED OWL FINANCIAL SECTOR -- OUR FINANCIAL SECTOR AND COST US A MERE FRACTION OF THE MONEY THAT WAS USED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ECONOMY DID NOT TWIST DOWN THE DRAIN IT WAS A LIKELY TO DO -- IT WAS A LIKELY TO DO HAD PRESIDENT BUSH NOT INTERVENED WITH HIS ECONOMIC TEAM TO ASK US ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NATION. NOW, WE CAN MOVE ON AS TO WHO'S TO BLAME BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TOMORROW'S PROBLEMS. AND I AM PROUD THAT THE PRESIDENT IS DEALING WITH SHORT-TERM SPENDING BY HIS SPREES. I AM PROUD THAT HE IS WORKING ON EARMARKS AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE A SYMPTOM OF THE DISEASE AROUND HERE. BUT REALLY OUR CHALLENGE IS LONG-TERM SPENDING. IN THE LONG TERM, SPENDING IS GOING TO DRIVE THE DEBT UP EVEN HIGHER. MEDICARE AND MEDICAID CUTS ARE GOING TO DOUBLE BY 2021, SOCIAL SECURITY IS GOING TO INCREASE BY 70% BY 2021. I'M -- MR. PRESIDENT, I'D ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR THREE MORE MINUTES. WITHOUT OBJECTION. THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS WE DO WHAT'S RESPONSIBLE. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THESE PROGRAMS, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY ARE STABLE AND SECURE FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHAIN. -- AND THEIR CHILDREN. IF WE CAN'T AGREE EVEN ON THE MODEST MEASURES LIKE THE THREE-YEAR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING CAP THAT SENATOR SESSIONS AND I HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR FOR OVER A YEAR, I QUESTION WHETHER WE HAVE THE DISCIPLINE TO DO THE HARD WORK. GETTING CONTROL OF SPENDING IS VERY, VERY HARD. BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT AND WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW. THE FIRST AND FOREMOST THING WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS ELIMINATING THE WASTE AN MISMANAGEMENT. CRAZY. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES AMERICANS IT DRIVES PEOPLE CRAZY THAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS AND NOT SEEING IF THEY WORK. IT DRIVES PEOPLE CRAZY THAT THE GOVERNMENT RUNS HUGE DEFICITS AND WE'RE PAYING OUT IMPROPER PAYMENTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND IMPROPER PAYMENTS EVEN QUALIFY. TO TREASURY TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T IT DRIVES AMERICA CRAZY WHEN WE DON'T MAKE THE REFORMS THAT OUR AUDITORS RECOMMEND. THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS 1,200 SUGGESTIONS MADE BY AUDITORS ON HOW TO MANAGE PROGRAMS BETTER AND IT HAS NOT ACTED ON ALMOST 1,200 OF THEM. IT DRIVES PEOPLE RAISEY THAT WE'RE RUNNING DEFICITS WHEN WE HAVE THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY THAT GETS FAILING GRADES FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT YEARS. IT DRIVES PEOPLE CRAZY WHEN WE'RE RUNNING DEFICITS AND PASSING APPROPRIATION BILLS EARMARKS. WITH $15 BILLION WORTH OF I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO TRY TO CLEAN UP ALL THIS WASTE. MANAGEMENT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON CONTRACT I'VE NEVER REQUESTED AN EARMARK. I VOTED AGAINST EVERY OMNIBUS APPROPRIATION BILL THAT'S COME SENATOR. TO THE FLOOR SINCE I'VE BEEN A I'VE WORKED HARD WITH SENATOR SESSIONS TO CAP SPENDING AND NOW I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING HARD WITH SENATOR CORKER AND MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN -- MANY OF MY FRIENDS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO PUT A CAP LONG TERM ON GOVERNMENT. SPENDING IN THE FEDERAL AS I SAY, THIS IS A BOLD STEP. IT HAS RISKS AND IF THIS BILL IS DISTORTED AND TWISTED, IT COULD COST ME MY SENATE SEAT. SAY THAT -- I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN. IF THIS BILL IS DISTORTED AND TWISTED, IT COULD COST MY MY SENATE SEAT. BUT IT'S A PRICE I'M WILLING TO PAY IT'S A PRICE I'M WILLING TO PAY FOR MY COUNTRY AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A PRICE I'M GRANDCHILDREN. WILLING TO PAY FOR MY THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE AND I YIELD THE FLOOR. SENATOR FROM UTAH. MR. PRESIDENT, I -- I'M -- MY REMARKS MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES, SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I BE ALLOWED TO DELIVER MY REMARKS IN FULL. WITHOUT OBJECTION. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN ONE YEAR. ON DECEMBER 24, 2009, ONE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THIS BODY PASSED A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF OUR NATION'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THAT'S RIGHT. THE MAJORITY PASSED OBAMA CARE ON CHRISTMAS EVE. IT WAS NOT THIS BODY'S FINEST MOMENT. IT WAS NOT THE ADMINISTRATION'S FINEST MOMENT. AND I EXPECT THAT THIS DEBATE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY FOR ITS PERSISTENT LACK OF ATTENTION TO THE CONSIDERED VIEWS OF ORDINARY AMERICANS. AMERICANS WHO REJECTED OBAMA CARE'S GIANT NEW ENTITLEMENT EXPANSIONS AND THE JOB-KILLING HAPHAZARDLY TO PAY FOR THEM. IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. IN THE GREATEST FISCAL COLLAPSE SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON JOB CREATION. INSTEAD LIKE TEENAGERS SET LOOSE WHEN MOM AND DAD LEAVE TOWN, THEY DID WHAT THEY WANTED TO AND FOCUSED ON A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. SURPRISING, ONLY THE MOST IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN SUPPORT FOR CARE CRATERED DURING THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 2009, THE MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR, OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND IN PARTICULAR THE GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNSUSTAINABLE INFLATION IN THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR MIGHT BE IN NEED OF REFORM. BUT THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS IS NOT ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND CONTROL OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY BY WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS AND THE SOLUTION IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT TO BE FOUND IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEW TAXES MOST OF WHICH WILL BE PASSED THROUGH TO AMERICAN FAMILIES IN THE FORM OF HIGHER PREMIUMS. FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT DELIBERATELY PUT ON BLINDERS, THE WISHES OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS WERE OBVIOUS. STOP THE PUSH FOR OBAMA CARE AND MOVE ON TO FIXING THE ECONOMY. BUT THE SENATE DID NOT LISTEN. INSTEAD, BY AN ADMINISTRATION THAT SAW THE GREAT LIBERAL DREAM OF GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE CONTINUED. SLIPPING THROUGH, THE LONG MARCH FIRST THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY CUT SHORT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S BIPARTISAN NEGOTIATIONS. THEN HEADS DOWN, THE MAJORITY PLOWED FORWARD ON THE FLOOR, ALLOWING NO VIRTUALLY MEANINGFUL AMENDMENTS. AND BEFORE GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, IT PASSED THE MOST SWEEPING REFORM OF THE NATION'S ECONOMY IN OVER 70 YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE. EVERY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SNORED THE BILL. NOT ONE REPUBLICAN DID, AND FOR GOOD REASON. SENATE, ITS PROPONENTS ASSUMED WHEN OBAMACARE PASSED THE IT WAS ON THE GLIDE PATH TO ENACTMENT, BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA. OUR NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 10.2%, THE HIGHEST IN 26 YEARS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT AT A MOMENT OF HISTORIC ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE LAST THING THE COUNTRY NEEDED WAS ANOTHER BUDGET-BUSTING ENTITLEMENT AND SKY-HIGH TAXES. AND JUST ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER, THIS MESSAGE WAS DELIVERED AGAIN IN IN A NEW SHOT HEARD ACROSS THE WORLD, OUR COLLEAGUE, THE SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS, SCOTT BROWN, WAS ELECTED IN A VERY CLEAR REFERENDUM ON THE DEMOCRATS' HEALTH BILL. THE VERDICT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IF THE PREVIOUS SUMMER'S TOWN HALLS LEFT ANY DOUBT, WAS NOW CRYSTAL CLEAR. THE PUSH FOR OBAMACARE MUST END. YET, THE ADMINISTRATION REFUSED TO YIELD. THEY THOUGHT THE PEOPLE WOULD EVENTUALLY COME TO EMBRACE THE ELEGANCE OF OBAMACARE IF ONLY THE MESSAGING WAS BETTER. AMERICANS WOULD APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT WASHINGTON POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS HAD TO OFFER THEM. SO AFTER TAKING TIME TO REGROUP AND WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS, DEMOCRATS DECIDED TO DEFY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE YET AGAIN. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, THE PRESIDENT HOSTED A SUMMIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND BEGAN HIS FINAL PUSH FOR HIS FEDERALIZING OF AMERICAN HEALTH CARE. THE RESULTING DISPLAY WAS UGLY. AMERICANS ALREADY REVOLTED BY THE DEALS CUT IN THIS CHAMBER TO SECURE THE BARE NUMBER OF VOTES NEEDED TO PASS THE BILL NOW WITNESSED HISTORIC ARM TWISTING AND DESPERATE EFFORTS IN THE HOUSE TO DENY THE OBVIOUS, THAT OBAMACARE REPRESENTED AN UNPRECEDENTED INTRUSION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO THE LIVES OF CITIZENS AND CLEARLY TAXPAYERS. WAS A MASSIVE BURDEN ON THE AND SO IT PASSED AND OBAMACARE BECAME LAW, AND THE ADMINISTRATION SET ABOUT WRITING THE THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF REGULATIONS THAT WOULD GOVERN HOW AMERICAN BUSINESSES PROVIDE EMPLOYEES. HEALTH BENEFITS TO THEIR 2010. FAST FORWARD TO NOVEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DID NOT FORGET THEIR SNUBBING BY SELF-PROCLAIMED PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS WHO, IN FACT, IGNORED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AT EVERY DEBATE. OPPORTUNITY DURING THE OBAMACARE AT VOTING BOOTHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY MADE CLEAR TO THOSE CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS WHO PROVIDED THE VOTES FOR THIS JOB-DESTROYING HEALTH CARE BILL THAT SUCH HIGH-HANDED, ILL-LIBERAL BEHAVIOR WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. FAST FORWARD ONE MORE TIME. YESTERDAY, BARELY 13 MONTHS AFTER OBAMACARE PASSED THE SENATE AND LESS THAN ONE YEAR SINCE IT BECAME LAW, THE ENTIRE SCHEME WAS STRUCK DOWN IN FEDERAL COURT. IN A TRIUMPH FOR BOTH PERSONAL LIBERTY AND THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION, THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE WAS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND OBAMACARE WAS STRUCK DOWN. NOT PART OF OBAMACARE. ALL OF OBAMACARE. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE ADMINISTRATION AND ITS SPECIAL INTEREST ALLIES RESPONDED WITH THE SAME DERISION TOWARD ORDINARY AMERICAN CITIZENS THAT HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE. INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE OBVIOUS, THAT OBAMACARE REPRESENTS A MASSIVE DEPARTURE FROM ANY TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT, WHITE HOUSE UNDERSTANDING OF LIMITED OFFICIALS WENT ON THE ATTACK, CALLING THE DECISION OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN STREAM AND RIDICULING ITS REASONING. WHY? REALLY? MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THE PROVISIONS ESSENTIAL TO THE OPERATION OF OBAMACARE ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL INTRUSIONS ON PERSONAL LIBERTY THAT VASTLY EXPAND THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE BY OBAMACARE'S PROPONENTS ESSENTIALLY REMOVES ANY LIMITS ON THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC DECISIONS. 26 STATES PARTICIPATED IN THIS CHALLENGE TO OBAMACARE. 32 MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, INCLUDING MYSELF, SIGNED AN AMICUS BRIEF CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OBAMACARE. BUT ACCORDING TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S NARRATIVE, WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM. THE ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE BUOYED BY THE GOODWILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CARRYING BANNERS OF BIPARTISANSHIP. TWO YEARS LATER, AFTER THE POLITICALLY DISASTROUS DECISION TO OVERHAUL 1/7 OF THE NATION'S ECONOMY WITH VIRTUALLY NO REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, THEY ARE BLAMING THE VICTIM. AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE TOOK ON THIS TOUGH ISSUE -- OR LOOKED AT THIS TOUGH ISSUE AND DETERMINED THAT KEY ELEMENTS OF OBAMACARE REPRESENTED AN UNPRECEDENTED AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, THE PROBLEM REMAINS, AS IT ALWAYS IS FOR LIBERALS: THE PEOPLE. THEIR VIEWS ARE NOT JUST SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO GRASP OBAMACARE'S CONSISTENCY WITH A GOVERNMENT OF LIMITED AND ENUMERATED POWERS. THE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO THINK THAT IF ONLY THEY FOCUS GROUP OBAMACARE BETTER, THEY WILL GET THE MESSAGING RIGHT. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL LEARN TO LOVE IT. I DON'T THINK SO. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET IT. THEY KNOW, AND I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS IN UTAH DO. IN AN ARTICLE YESTERDAY IN "POLITICO," PATRICK GADDELL AND DOUGLAS SHOEN HIGHLIGHTED THE REASONS FOR THE PUBLIC'S DEEPENING DISDAIN FOR OBAMACARE. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NO MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAS CREATED THE CONTINUED VEHEMENT PUBLIC OPPOSITION THAT HEALTH CARE HAS PROVOKED SINCE THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT OF 1854. IN THEIR VIEW, THERE IS ONE BIG UNDERLYING FACTOR THAT CONTINUES TO CAUSE MANY AMERICANS TO OPPOSE THE HEALTH CARE BILL. ITS PASSAGE WAS ANTIDEMOCRATIC. IF THE REPUBLICANS' CAMPAIGN SLOGAN OF 1854 WAS CRIME AGAINST KANSAS, IN 2010, THAT SLOGAN DEMOCRACY. WOULD BE CRIME AGAINST AMERICANS KNOW THAT THE SENATE BILL WAS 2,074 PAGES LONG. THEY KNOW THAT IT AUTHORIZED 70 NEW GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. THEY KNOW THAT IT DELEGATED REGULATORY POWER TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION 1,697 TIMES. THEY KNOW THAT IT CUT CUT $465 BILLION FROM MEDICARE AT A TIME WHEN IT ALREADY FACED A $38 TRILLION UNFUNDED LIABILITY. THEY KNOW THAT THE BILL TOOK FROM ONE ALREADY UNSUSTAINABLE ENTITLEMENT TO PAY FOR A BRAND-NEW ENTITLEMENT. THEY KNOW THAT IT RAISES -- IT RAISED TAXES BY OVER OVER $550 BILLION, REPEATEDLY VIOLATING THE PRESIDENT'S PLEDGE NOT TO RAISE TAXES ON MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. THEY KNOW THAT OBAMACARE DESTROYED 695,000 AMERICAN JOBS -- OR WILL DESTROY THAT MANY JOBS AT A TIME WHEN MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. THEY KNOW THAT THE MEDICAID EXPANSIONS THREATEN TO BANKRUPT THE STATES, WITH C.B.O. ESTIMATING THAT THE MEDICAID EXPANSION WILL COST AMERICAN TAXPAYERS $435 BILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS. THEY KNOW THAT THE TOTAL COST OF OBAMACARE IS $2.6 TRILLION EXTRAPOLATED OVER TEN YEARS, AND IT. THEY KNOW THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD STUPID. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AREN'T THEY UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS. TO BORROW FROM JUSTICE SCALIA, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESPITE OBAMACARE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LOVE DEMOCRACY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT FOOLS. THEY KNOW THAT THIS LAW WAS ENACTED IN A TOTALLY PARTISAN MANNER AND OVER THE LOUD OPPOSITION OF THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, AND THEY KNOW THAT THE PARTISANS PROMOTING OBAMACARE WERE NOT AND ARE NOT FORTHRIGHT WHEN THEY SAY THAT IT IS BUDGET NEUTRAL. HOSPITALS. OBAMACARE CUTS $155 BILLION FROM IT CUTS $202 BILLION FROM 11 MILLION SENIORS ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE. IT CUTS NEARLY $15 BILLION FROM NURSING HOMES. IT CUTS NEARLY $40 BILLION FROM HOME HEALTH AGENCIES. IT CUTS NEARLY $7 BILLION FROM HOSPICES. BUT THESE CUTS DON'T GO TOWARDS STRENGTHENING THE MEDICARE -- STRENGTHENING MEDICARE, A PROGRAM WITH CATASTROPHIC UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. RATHER, DEMOCRATS POURED THE SAVINGS FROM THESE CUTS BACK INTO A BRAND-NEW UNSUSTAINABLE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. FURTHERMORE, SO-CALLED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM MANAGED TO NEGLECT THE PRESSING NEED FOR A PERMANENT DOC FIX, YET C.B.O.'S MOST RECENT ESTIMATE IS THAT A LONG-TERM DOC FIX FREEZING MEDICARE PAYMENT RATES AT 2011 LEVELS WOULD RAISE THE DEFICIT BY $249 BILLION. NOT COUNTING AN ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL $53 BILLION IN DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS. NOT SURPRISINGLY, AN ASSOCIATED PRESS FACT CHECK OF THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS CONCLUDEED -- QUOTE -- "THE IDEA THAT OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE LAW SAVES MONEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON SOME ARGUABLE ASSUMPTIONS." THAT MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THE FAR. UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR SO THE LIKELIHOOD THAT OBAMACARE WILL NOT, AS ITS ADVOCATES CLAIM, SAVE THE GOVERNMENT MONEY WAS CONFIRMED AGAIN IN A HEARING HELD LAST WEEK BY THE C.M.S. CHIEF ACT DUARY -- ACTUARY RICHARD FOSTER. HE TESTIFIED THAT THE LAW WILL NOT LIKELY HOLD COSTS DOWN AND THAT CONTRARY TO THE PRESIDENT'S MANTRA, EVERYONE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE IF THEY LIKE IT. IN RESPONSE TO WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL OPERATION, ATTACK THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN NONPARTISAN PROFESSIONAL EXPERT, STATING IN A BLOG POST ONCE AGAIN, WE DISAGREE, THEY SAID. "HISTORY SHOWS IT IS POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES THAT WILL SAVE MONEY FOR MEDICARE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT." UNQUOTE. WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE? THE CHIEF ACTUARY AT C.M.S., THEIR ACTUARY, OR A WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL OPERATIVE? THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN MIGHT NOT HAVE A Ph.D. IN ECONOMICS, BUT AMERICANS DO UNDERSTAND THAT MASSIVE NEW ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS DO NOT SAVE MONEY. IN THEIR GUTS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT FORMER C.B.O. DIRECTOR DOUGLAS HOTELS EAGLE AN IS RIGHT WHEN HE -- HOTELS EKE AN IS RIGHT WHEN HE CONCLUDES THE REPEAL OF THIS FLAWED LAW WILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY BY $300 BILLION. ULTIMATELY ALL WE WANT IS A VOTE ON REPEAL. LAST WEEK, SOME OF MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES CAME TO THE FLOOR TO ADVOCATE FOR RULES CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITED THE RIGHTS -- OR THE RIGHT OF THE MINORITY TO DEBATE. THE FILIBUSTER, THEY INSISTED, IS AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY AND MAJORITY RULE. LET THEM PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE. ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS AN OBAMACARE. UP-OR-DOWN VOTE ON REPEAL OF THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. ULTIMATELY, YOU HAVE TO ASK WHY THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WOULD DENY US THIS VOTE. I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER. IT HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS WHO KNOW LAW. THEIR CONSTITUENTS HATE THIS YEAH, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WHO KNOW THEIR CONSTITUENTS HATE THIS LAW. YET THESE MEMBERS ARE TORN BETWEEN TWO MASTERS. ON THE ONE HAND ARE THEIR CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUENTS. ON THE OTHER ARE THE LIBERAL INTEREST GROUPS WHO SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE AGAIN STAND TO LOSE IN THIS CALCULUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM TOMORROW IS THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE PURSUING A SYMBOLIC ACT. THE GUARDIANS OF THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WILL OPINE THAT ATTEMPTS TO REPEAL OBAMACARE MIGHT MAKE FOR GOOD EXERCISES. THEATER BUT ARE SENSELESS IN MY VIEW, THIS ATTITUDE DEMONSTRATES A PROFOUND LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. OVER TIME, GIVEN THE POWER OF IDEAS AND AN ENGAGED CITIZENRY, INITIALLY SYMBOLIC ACTS HAVE A WAY OF BECOMING LAW. OR IN THIS CASE, HAVE A WAY OF LAW. QUIETING -- GETTING RID OF THIS IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT CITIZENS EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PETITION AND REDRESS HAVE A WAY OF REMINDING EVEN THE MOST HARDHEARTED AND MOST HARDENED OF PARTISAN POLITICIANS THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS. JOB IS TO REPRESENT THEIR I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SOME WILL SCOFF AT OUR EFFORTS TO REPEAL THIS BILL, BUT I REST EASY KNOWING THAT I AM STANDING WITH MY FELLOW UTAHNS AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WHOSE DISTRUST OF OBAMACARE GROWS THE MORE THEY LEARN ABOUT IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN OBAMACARE IS FINALLY REPEALED. IT MAY NOT BE NEXT MONTH. IT MAY NOT BE NEXT YEAR, BUT IT WILL BE REPEALED. AND IF WE'RE SMART, WE'LL MAKE IT NEXT MONTH OR WITHIN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. AND WHEN IT IS, IT WILL BE A TRIUMPH FOR OUR CONSTITUTION IT WILL BE A TRIUMPH FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL BE A TRIUMPH FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO PERSEVERED IN THEIR RESISTANCE TO THIS LAW. MADAM PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.