21166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 16 September 9, 2009 SENATE—Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was SCHEDULE will give cancer patients over 70 only called to order by the Honorable JEFF Mr. REID. Mr. President, following end-of-life counseling and not chemo- MERKLEY, a Senator from the State of leader remarks, the Senate will be in a therapy’’ is a lie. It is not me saying Oregon. period of morning business for an hour, that, it is Newsweek. with Senators permitted to speak Another one is that illegal immi- PRAYER therein for up to 10 minutes each. The grants will get free health insurance. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- majority will control the first 30 min- The House bill doesn’t give anyone free fered the following prayer: utes and the Republicans will control health care. Eternal Spirit, the fountain of all the second 30 minutes. Following So illegal immigrants getting free wisdom, we bring our fragmented lives morning business, the Senate will re- health insurance is a lie. That is one of into Your presence, seeking Your sume consideration of S. 1023, the Trav- the five biggest lies. wholeness. We bring our restless spirits el Promotion Act. The Senate will re- Another one is that death panels will to You seeking Your calm strength. We cess from 12:30 to 2:15 to allow for the decide who lives. This is a dandy that bring You our transient thoughts, weekly caucus luncheons to meet. We started and got legs because of the re- seeking the permanence of Your gra- hope to reach an agreement to yield signed Governor of Alaska. cious providence. back some of the debate time on the On July 16, Betsy McCaughey, a former Today, remind our lawmakers that travel promotion legislation prior to lieutenant governor of New York and darling only as we lose ourselves in something 4:30 p.m. Senators will be notified when of the right, said on Fred Thompson’s radio higher can we truly find ourselves. To that vote is scheduled. Upon disposi- show that ‘‘On page 425’’— this end, give them great causes to em- tion of the travel bill, the Senate will They talk about page 425, but it brace and a great faith to energize proceed to a cloture vote on the execu- doesn’t exist there or anyplace else. their labors. Lord, lead them from tive nomination of Cass Sunstein to be But that gives them credibility. doubt and disillusionment, from cyni- Administrator of the Office of Informa- ‘‘On page 425, Congress would make it man- cism and frustration, to a confidence tion and Regulatory Affairs at the Of- datory . . . that every five years, people in that in everything You work for the fice of Management and Budget. This Medicare have a required counseling session good of those who love You. Give them week, we are also going to go to the that will tell them how to end their life the light to see the way You desire Transportation appropriations bill, and sooner, how to decline nutrition.’’ Sarah them to take through today’s per- we will continue to work through the Palin coined ‘‘death panels’’ in an August 7 Facebook post. plexing circumstances. important appropriations process. We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen. Mr. President, that is a lie. f f Next is that the government will set HEALTH CARE REFORM PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE doctors’ wages. This is the socialized Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wish to medicine thing we hear so much about, The Honorable JEFF MERKLEY led the take a few minutes this morning to that all this health care debate is Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: bring to the attention of the Senate an about is socialized medicine. This is in I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the article in the September 7 Newsweek the magazine. United States of America, and to the Repub- I have told people in Nevada and ev- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, magazine. This is the language from indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Newsweek. I am not using the words; eryplace I went during the break that these are their words. There are two the only person I have ever heard in f pages. ‘‘The Five Biggest Lies in the many years who spoke about a single- APPOINTMENT OF ACTING Health Care Debate.’’ Remember, it is payer system was Paul Wellstone. He PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE the five biggest, but there are a lot of did it proudly. He believed in it and he The PRESIDING OFFICER. The them that have been going on. These talked about it. But he is the only per- clerk will please read a communication are the five biggest lies, in the esti- son I have heard talk about it since I to the Senate from the President pro mation of the publishers of this multi- have been in Congress. But the govern- tempore (Mr. BYRD). million-dollar distributed magazine: ment setting doctors’ wages is a lie. The legislative clerk read the fol- To the credit of opponents of health-care Socialized medicine is not part of the lowing letter: reform, the lies and exaggeration they’re plan that is being talked about. That is U.S. SENATE, spreading are not made up out of whole simply not true. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, cloth—which makes the misinformation that I hope people will come back to re- Washington, DC, September 9, 2009. much more credible. Instead, because oppo- ality and understand that what we are To the Senate: nents demand that everyone within earshot trying to do is fix a system that is Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, (or e-mail range) look, say, ‘‘at page 425 of the House bill,’’ the lies take on a patina of bankrupting our country. Insurance of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby companies are making huge amounts of appoint the Honorable JEFF MERKLEY, a Sen- credibility. Take the claim in one chain e- ator from the State of Oregon, to perform mail that the government will have elec- money. They are not subject to the the duties of the Chair. tronic access to everyone’s bank account, antitrust laws. They are taking advan- ROBERT C. BYRD, implying that the Feds will rob you blind. tage of the American people. Their No. President pro tempore. That is a falsehood. It is not in any 1 goal is to see how much money they Mr. MERKLEY thereupon assumed bill, on any page, or anyplace. It is just can make, and that is not a lie. We are the chair as Acting President pro tem- made up, and it is carried on talk trying to change the curve. pore. radio, blogs, and cable TV all over Right now, in America, one-sixth of f America. It is false, not true. every dollar spent by everyone—it One of the things I found in going doesn’t matter where you are—is for RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY home is that people are concerned—old health care. If we don’t change that, by LEADER people, because we get sick when we 2020, which is close, 35 percent of every The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- get old—they won’t be able to get any dollar spent will be for health care. We pore. The majority leader is recog- chemotherapy. In this magazine, No. 1, are not trying to take away benefits nized. it says that ‘‘the threat that Medicare from old people. We are doing our very

● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 09:11 Apr 03, 2012 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\S09SE9.000 S09SE9 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD September 9, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 16 21167 best to have a fair system and one that The fact that 47 million Americans The rod is still there today, 29 years stops the insurance companies from have no health insurance is at least later. taking advantage of everyone. embarrassing, if not shameful, in this A 17-foot fall through a roof while working f great and prosperous Nation. Who are in early 1990s left him with another $3,000 these people, these 47 million? Are they hospital bill he couldn’t pay, and a heart at- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME lazy or just unlucky? Well, they are tack in 1995 generated a $25,000 bill to St. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- not the poorest in America because we John’s Hospital [in Springfield, IL]. pore. Under the previous order, leader- provide for the poorest. We have Med- He thinks the hospital forgave most ship time is reserved. icaid, which provides basic health care of the bill. f for those who are out of work and have Fearing another big bill, [Terry] decided no source of income or savings. They not to seek medical care in 1996, when he fell MORNING BUSINESS off another roof. ‘‘I just laid in bed until the are not the fortunate few or the fortu- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- pain went away, and I went back to work,’’ nate majority, because they don’t Broida said. pore. Under the previous order, the enjoy health insurance, as most of us Spinal stenosis almost crippled him until Senate will proceed to a period of do, where they work. They are people his primary care doctor at [a local commu- morning business for 1 hour, with Sen- who get up and go to work every single nity health center] referred him for emer- ators permitted to speak therein for up day, without the assurance that they gency surgery in 2007. to 10 minutes each, with the time are going to have protection if they The surgery worked, but the surgeon equally divided and controlled between run into medical bills. was from a local clinic which did not the two leaders or their designees. The This morning, in the State Journal offer discounted rates to patients, such majority will control the first half and Register, which is published in my as they offer to major health insurance the Republicans will control the second hometown of Springfield, IL, there is a companies. The doctor bill alone for half. story of one person, Terry Broida. He is his emergency surgery was $40,000. The Senator from Illinois is recog- a fellow who is down on his luck. He is Broida said, ‘‘There’s no way in hell I nized. 62 years old, and he says: can pay $40,000.’’ f ‘‘I couldn’t get a credit card to buy a post- At one time, he said, he earned $50,000 a REMEMBERING SENATOR EDWARD age stamp,’’ said Broida, 62, who estimated year. He said he now makes about $18,000 he owes $80,000 to Springfield doctors and while recovering from surgery. M. KENNEDY hospitals, money he doesn’t think he will be He went on to talk about the fact Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we knew able to pay. that he had heart problems that may it was coming. Yet the sight of Senator Is he out of work? No. He is a small have been complicated by dental prob- Edward Kennedy’s desk draped in the businessman who operates an air-filter lems. He cannot afford regular dental black velvet of mourning is painfully maintenance company, and he is one of care, obviously. He basically said he is sad. more than 45 million Americans who for a universal system of health care. America and the world have lost a have no health insurance. He would like the Federal Government great champion of civil rights, human It says: to establish a public option to compete rights, and fairness. As President He wants to see Congress and the Obama against private insurance companies so Obama said so well, Senator Kennedy administration cover all Americans through people like him could afford insurance. was not only historic, he was heroic. a universal, government-controlled system. He said in this article: And he’s not scared of what some would call We will have more time later this ‘‘Businesses exist to make a profit,’’ he ‘‘socialized medicine.’’ week to talk about his extraordinary said. ‘‘Government exists to provide a serv- life and the honor those of us who He said this Tuesday: ice.’’ served with him enjoyed during his life. We have socialized medicine already—it’s Asked whether the debate about reform Today, I wish to say what a great called Medicare, and it works. makes him hopeful, he said powerful lob- honor it was to have worked alongside This says: bying interests will be a barrier to major de- cisions by congressional lawmakers. America’s health-care costs total more Ted Kennedy. ‘‘I’m not holding my breath,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s than $2.2 trillion a year, accounting for 16.2 On his desk today is a copy of one of all about the Benjamins. If they listen to the percent of the gross domestic product in 2007. his favorite poems, ‘‘The Road Less money we’re screwed.’’ Traveled’’ by Robert Frost. That is $1 out of every $6 spent in Terry Broida, Springfield, IL, one of There is another Frost poem that is America. 47 million uninsured Americans who identified with the Kennedys that Ted And yet, the latest statistics indicate that are all over our country. They got up Kennedy loved as well. It is called 15 percent of Americans [like Terry Broida] and went to work this morning at their were uninsured in 2007. ‘‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy small businesses and working for other Evening.’’ It is the story of a man who Health care costs are crippling the people. They made the bed in your pauses to admire the simple serene ability of many companies to compete, motel room last night. They are going beauty of a New England woods filling and many companies are dropping cov- to take the dishes off the table when softly with snow and wishes he could erage. you finish with your breakfast. They stay longer. It reads: Broida, the father of six, hasn’t had health are the folks who are watching your insurance [in 40 years] since 1969, when he But I have promises to keep, kids at daycare. They are the ones who was 22 and sold life insurance [at a local And miles to go before I sleep, agency]. When he left that job, he operated are watching your mom in the nursing And miles to go before I sleep. furniture stores for more than 30 years. home. And they are the ones who do Unlike his beloved brothers, Senator He said, ‘‘I was young, stupid and not have health insurance. Kennedy’s life was not one of promise thought I could handle anything.’’ What kind of a country are we if we cut short but a life of promises kept. can ignore the obvious—47 million un- He said he never could afford health insur- He loved America, and his life’s work ance but always seemed to scrape together insured Americans. When people come made us a better and more just nation. enough money for doctor visits for himself, to the floor and rail about health care If Ted Kennedy were here today, I his kids and his now-ex-wife—until 1980, reform and talk about socialism, they feel absolutely certain that he would when he broke his right leg playing softball. are talking about whether we as a na- be on the floor at this moment talking To pay for the $3,000 surgery to fix his leg, tion can reach out and provide for about health care. It really was the he agreed to reupholster the surgeon’s fur- those who go to work and do not have hallmark of his public career. From the niture. the protection and security of health ‘‘It was a pretty good swap,’’ Broida said. beginning, he understood this was one But that doctor died a few months later, insurance. I do not call that socialism. of the most fundamental things when leaving Broida with no one willing to accept It is fundamental Americanism and it came to justice and fairness in a similar swap to remove the metal rod [the fairness. It is what has defined us as a America. doctor put] in his leg. country for so long.

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