September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6699 a bipartisan bill—House leaders took cans get back on their feet. Despite the The clerk will call the roll. the unprecedented step earlier this heated rhetoric, our Food Stamp Pro- The assistant legislative clerk called year and split food assistance from the gram is working as intended. the roll. other essential programs supported by I was fortunate to come here when Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the the farm bill, even though we passed a we had two men with entirely different Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. farm bill that would save $25 to $30 bil- philosophies. Both men became nomi- SHAHEEN) and the Senator from Colo- lion. nees of their party to run for Presi- rado (Mr. UDALL) are necessarily ab- After months of delay, last week the dent, George McGovern and Bob Dole. sent. House voted on a separate nutrition They worked together to feed the hun- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. title, which only moves us further gry people in this country, especially HEITKAMP). Are there any other Sen- away from enacting a farm bill before in the School Lunch Program. ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? the programs expire on September 30. The Congressional Budget Office The result was announced—yeas 98, This latest lurching maneuver means forecasts that the SNAP costs will fall nays 0, as follows: over the next several years. As the even more uncertainty for farmers. [Rollcall Vote No. 204 Ex.] economy improves and people get back Instead of standing with the millions YEAS—98 of Americans who are still struggling to work, those costs will come down. Children who are educated will create Alexander Flake Mikulski to put food on the table—these House Ayotte Franken Moran Members never have to go hungry, ex- jobs. Baldwin Gillibrand Murkowski cept by choice, because of the huge sal- Instead, we have bumper sticker poli- Barrasso Graham Murphy aries they make—it is regrettable and tics—appealing to our worst instincts. Baucus Grassley Murray It is churlish, childish, and irrespon- Begich Hagan Nelson inexcusable that the House Repub- Bennet Harkin Paul licans are turning to slashing essential sible. I might also say it is immoral. Blumenthal Hatch The House-passed CR and the House Portman nutrition help for struggling Ameri- Blunt Heinrich Pryor cans. Ensuring that these programs so-called farm bill will only worsen the Boozman Heitkamp Reed gridlock that crippled the Senate since Boxer Heller Reid can continue to serve Vermonters and Brown Hirono Risch our return from the August recess. We Burr Hoeven all Americans in need is a key part of Roberts are elected not to grandstand but to Cantwell Inhofe enacting a strong farm bill for our Rockefeller Cardin Isakson legislate. Let’s legislate around here. Rubio country. It is a reality recognized by Carper Johanns Members need to stop running to the Sanders the bipartisan Senate-passed farm bill. Casey Johnson (SD) Schatz The House cuts SNAP benefits by cameras, getting little sound bites and Chambliss Johnson (WI) saying things such as: I am standing up Chiesa Kaine Schumer levels 10 times as high as the bipar- Coats King Scott tisan Senate bill and twice as high as for America, as they do everything to Sessions kill the American economy. Coburn Kirk the House’s original bill. These cuts Cochran Klobuchar Shelby We were not elected to make the gov- Stabenow would mean that each year an average Collins Landrieu ernment less efficient. We are even un- Coons Leahy Tester of 3 million people would be kicked off able to make the most basic decisions Corker Lee Thune food assistance, even those who are Cornyn Levin Toomey that the American people elected us to working and making as little as $2,500 Crapo Manchin Udall (NM) make. The American people want us to Vitter per year. What is worse, the bill will Cruz Markey solve the problems now through fair so- Donnelly McCain Warner mean hundreds of thousands of chil- lutions and through the give-and-take Durbin McCaskill Warren dren will lose access to school meals. Enzi McConnell Whitehouse of our elected government. Ask any teacher, whether in Hawaii, Feinstein Menendez Wicker I appreciate the fact that the people Fischer Merkley Wyden Vermont or in any other State, does a of my State—Republicans and Demo- NOT VOTING—2 hungry child learn? Of course not. crats together—give me the honor of These school meals are an invest- Shaheen Udall (CO) serving here. I have become the longest ment in our future and an investment serving Senator from our State and The nomination was confirmed. in our children. Having young people also the longest serving Senator in this The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under who are able to learn is an investment body. I have seen Republicans and the previous order, the motion to re- in the future of the U.S. economy. So Democrats work together on these consider is considered made and laid on what do we say? Oh, no, we are not problems. I have seen people in the the table, and the President will imme- going to feed them. This is a country past do that. I know it can be done but diately be notified of the Senate’s ac- that spends billions of dollars just to not when a tiny minority says: We are tion. get rid of excess food and on needless the only ones who know what to do, diet programs, but we cannot feed chil- f and we will make the decision. No. We dren in school. It is shameful. It is have good men and women from both LEGISLATIVE SESSION mean-spirited, shortsighted, and it parties in the House and Senate. Let’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- hurts America. stop the bumper sticker politics. Let’s ate will resume legislative session. If that were not enough, the House get back to work and do things the way Republicans also assert with their bill f they should be done. There is still time that 3 months of benefits every 3 years to show the American people that we RECESS is plenty of time for out-of-work Amer- know why we were sent here and that icans to find a job that pays well The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Congress can still do the work of the enough to feed a family. Get real. Have the previous order, the Senate stands Nation. they seen what happened to the econ- in recess until 2:15 p.m. Mr. President, I yield back all time. Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:30 p.m., omy in this country? Have they seen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without what happened as we try to drag our- recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassem- objection, it is so ordered. bled when called to order by the Pre- selves back from the horrible recession The question is on the Hughes nomi- siding Officer (Ms. BALDWIN). they put us into a few years ago? Un- nation. fortunately, when there is only one job Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask for f for every three unemployed workers. the yeas and nays. MAKING CONTINUING APPROPRIA- Simply telling out-of-work Americans The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a TIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014— to get a job is easier said than done. sufficient second? Somebody ought to ask them why There appears to be a sufficient sec- MOTION TO PROCEED—Continued don’t they do their jobs. ond. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Times of high unemployment are the The question is, Will the Senate ad- ator from Maryland. very reason we have food assistance. vise and consent to the nomination of Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, as These food programs were always car- Todd M. Hughes, of the District of Co- the chair of the Appropriations Com- ried by Republicans and Democrats lumbia, to be United States Circuit mittee, I rise to oppose the continuing who worked together to help Ameri- Judge for the Federal Circuit? resolution the House passed last week

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.018 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6700 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 on a party-line vote of 230 to 189. On be- sis of sustained chronic unemployment This isn’t hard, but in order to get half of all of the people of Maryland at 7 percent or higher in many of my that, we need to clear out the toxic po- and all of the people of the United communities or in certain sectors, such litical items in the CR. So I want a States, I am so frustrated; they should as construction, or in the rural parts of clean CR. A clean CR means getting rid have a government that they can count my State? There is also a real crisis for of the political riders of defunding on to operate, that they could count on those who need health care. There is a ObamaCare and striking the debt limit to work as hard as they do; they should real crisis for those who are seeking rider. be able to count on having the govern- higher education and can’t afford it. Second, we need to have a shorter ment they pay for. However, what we And look at our crisis in the foreign date. My recommendation would be have here is a manufactured crisis, policy arena. around November 15 because the longer with histrionics and theatrical politics On the very day the President is term CR means more autopilot func- attempting to bring us to the brink of speaking at the U.N. to project Amer- tioning of government—in other words, a shutdown. It is shutdown, slam-down ican power, the other side is trying on more government dysfunction. Novem- politics. the Senate floor to make us powerless ber 15 keeps the pressure on both sides The CR that was sent over to us is to function. If they want to project of the aisle to get the job done. loaded with political ideology. What American power, they should be willing What is getting the job done? First of does it do? First it wants to defund the to show that the greatest parliamen- all, we would like to cancel sequester, President’s Affordable Care Act and tary, deliberative body in the world and we would like to cancel sequester take health care away from those who can be parliamentary and deliberative in a balanced way. What is sequester? need it. It also is designed to create a in solving our problems. If they want We have to come up with about $110 crisis over the debt ceiling and under- to project power, it starts here, show- billion in debt reduction. We can do mine the full faith and credit of the ing we can govern ourselves. We start that through additional strategic cuts. United States. Our President has been by acting right and focusing on solving As an appropriator, I am willing to clear that he will veto any bill with real problems with real solutions and look at them. Secondly, revenue. What getting off of this brinkmanship. these toxic political riders. He is right, about those loopholes Mitt Romney The President has said he will veto talked about? Let’s bring some of those and we will support him. it, so the riders are veto bait. This is Much will be said in the media over back and examine them. Let’s look at all designed to use a lot of time and a the next several days about something some of the items in mandatory spend- lot of resources. I was elected to the called the continuing resolution. Well, Senate to be a legislator, not a prop for ing. This is the way we can enact our here we go again using Washington- a political farce. This is not Gilbert bills, invest in and protect our country. speak that nobody in America under- Our Nation faces long-term fiscal and Sullivan, this is the real deal. stands. Here we go with budget-speak. The American people are fed up with challenges. It does demand action from And the American people are saying: these manufactured crises, and so am I. the Congress. But the place for those What are they trying to accomplish? So let me give my view about where we negotiations is not in a continuing res- Well, let me explain it in a straight- want to go. And who is the ‘‘we?’’ I be- olution. It belongs in the Budget Com- talk way. lieve it is not only the Democrats in mittee. And the six Republican Sen- A continuing resolution is a straight- the Senate, but I believe there are ators who are planning to filibuster forward, simple act where we extend pragmatists on both sides of the aisle this week are the same ones who the government’s funding beyond Octo- who want to find a sensible center threatened and blocked the budget the ber 1 to a date certain. It is meant to where we can achieve fiscal stability, Senate passed going to conference in continue the funding. It is always, his- begin to draw down our public debt but the House. So they blocked the budget. torically, meant to be, No. 1, short- also have an opportunity to be Then they blame us because we don’t term and, No. 2, a stopgap measure as progrowth in our country, where we have a budget. Go figure. we work on getting final resolution of focus on important issues of national The House and Senate Appropria- budgetary and fiscal matters. It is also security, rebuilding America with in- tions Committees, the appropriators, designed to keep the U.S. Government frastructure, rebuilding our human in- have marked up annual funding bills. open and functioning while we work frastructure in terms of our edu- We are ready to make sure we can do out our difficulties. cational system and also our research our work, but we need the Budget Com- So that is what a continuing resolu- and development, coming up with the mittee to give us a top line. We can’t tion is meant to be. It was never meant new ideas that will lead to the new jobs get to conference because Republicans to be a vehicle for controversial, pro- in the new century. The way we want have objected. Now they want to have vocative, poke-it-in-your-eye and to do this and the way I am suggesting a simple stopgap that leads to a show- stick-it-to-you controversial legisla- is the way the American people would down and a shutdown. tion. It was never meant to be a negoti- like us to vote. If we don’t come together, we will ating chip for a grander bargain to re- The other party would like us to have very serious consequences. If we solve issues, nor was it ever designed to have a continuing resolution until De- do not enact a clean continuing resolu- be a weapon in the fight over the size cember 15. That is one more gimmick tion by October 1 that enables us to get and role of government. That is for the to bring us to Christmas Eve, where we to a sensible outcome in early Decem- authorizing committee. That is what will have a lot of theatrics and jingle ber, the government will shut down. we do in our appropriations commit- bells-jingle bells while we try to solve Doesn’t that look great for the United tees at the subcommittee level. That is our situation. States of America. We say to emerging what Senator MURRAY in her Budget I want a short-term CR. I would like democracies all over the world, Look Committee worked on when we passed one between now and November 15—not at us. the budget. That is where those fights long term, not something just to dilly We need to show we can govern. come in, not at the end of the fiscal and dither. I am tired of dilly and dith- It has not only consequences in the year. er. So I suggest a short-term CR for way we are viewed in the world; it pro- Here we have the same old tricks and sometime around mid-November. The vides uncertainty for business, it will techniques we have seen year after purpose of that would be that we would be terrible for our economy, and it will year since President Obama was elect- use that opportunity to get to a vote in have a direct impact on jobs. Business ed. They not only want to throw sand December that would be on the funding will not know what the government is in the gears of the Obama administra- of all of our bills, arrived at by a vote going to do and so they don’t know tion, they want to throw cement into here, a conference committee with the what they can do, so they will not be the gears of the functioning of govern- House, where our spending would be spending to create jobs. All we are ment. Well, I think that is outrageous. sensible, it would be affordable, it doing is creating more chaos. The House continuing resolution is a would meet compelling human need, We want to be sure the Small Busi- manufactured crisis driving us toward the national security issues of the ness Administration approves loans— a shutdown. We have plenty of real cri- United States, and would rebuild our they need to be open to do that—that ses in our country. How about the cri- infrastructure. rural housing development and farm

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.023 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6701 loans are able to go out so we can help is to be recognized, but I ask if he can sit down, roll up our sleeves, and where that is needed. would allow me 5 minutes to follow the finally finish this business. Whether We need to make sure crucial life- Senator from Maryland and then yield you are a Democrat, Republican, or saving discoveries at NIH happen. the floor to him. Independent, people are fed up with Right now if we have a shutdown, peo- I thank the Senator from Texas. this do-nothing Congress that doesn’t ple will not be able to be admitted to Madam President, I stand in support address the real issues American fami- the National Institutes of Health clin- of the statement made by the chairman lies are facing across our Nation. We ical trials and programs because they of the Senate Appropriations Com- need to roll up our sleeves and get it don’t know if they will be continued. mittee. We have served together in the done. To have long speeches that go on Weather forecasters will be told they House, now in the Senate. I am happy for hours, delaying the funding of our are not an essential service. to serve with her in the capacity as government, jeopardizes the most basic We are now looking at the impact on chairman of the Defense Appropria- functions of what we need to achieve Federal law enforcement. tions Subcommittee, the largest in dol- right here. We need to come together I could go item by item. I will talk lar amount that has this responsi- on a bipartisan basis. A filibuster, more about these items as time goes bility. delay, long speeches may get the atten- on. I think what she has spelled out on tion of the media for a few minutes but I will conclude by saying during this the floor is very straightforward and won’t solve America’s problems. last year on both sides of the aisle the very honest. The last point I want to make was Appropriations Committee has func- We were challenged in the Senate to her strongest point. The President is at tioned well. I thank not only my sub- come up with a budget resolution this the United Nations this week meeting committee chairmen—I see Senator year. Many of our critics said, You with leaders around the world to try to DURBIN, who chairs the defense sub- have come up with excuses; now come bring about a more peaceful world in a committee—but I also wish to thank up with a budget resolution. And we very dangerous climate in many places. the Republicans. My vice chairman of did. Six months ago we passed a budget He wants to let people know that resolution, and then we asked for con- the committee, Senator SHELBY of Ala- America will use its leadership and its bama, supported me at every step of sent to go to a conference committee power to come together to make this a the process. We functioned with civil- with the House to work out our dif- better world. And what message is ity, intellectual rigor, and open amend- ferences. Time and time again Sen- coming out of the United States Sen- ments during the committee process. It ators on the other side of the aisle ob- ate? That we are divided, we are fight- jected to our meeting with the House was transparent. We had ‘‘yes’’ votes, ing with one another, we are facing fili- to work out our differences. They had a we had ‘‘no’’ votes. But everybody had busters, and on and on. This isn’t what different reason every day. The net re- their day and everybody had their say. America should be projecting. sult was we couldn’t have the con- We were able to move our process for- Let’s project the kind of unity and ference committee to reach an agree- ward, although we disagreed sometimes the kind of determination that has ment with the House on how much we on the funding level for this or the made this a great nation. Let’s fund would spend. funding level for that. But we came to our government; let’s solve our prob- Then Senator MIKULSKI told each of lems; let’s stop the obstruction. a conclusion. I wish to thank them for us in our appropriations subcommit- their cooperation in the process. I yield the floor. tees: Do your work. Sit down with your The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Now we are here, where we could Republican member and come up with ator from Texas. take the next step. Yes, we have to de- a spending bill for next year that gets Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, I rise bate some of those line items. We do rid of sequestration and that is sen- today in opposition to ObamaCare. I need to debate some of those programs. sible. And we did. Time and again we rise today in an effort to speak for 26 But we can’t move forward unless we worked these out on a bipartisan basis, million Texans and for 300 million resolve the shutdown showdown. brought them through committee, Americans. Let’s pass a continuing resolution ready for floor action. The first bill All across this country Americans that takes us to mid-November. Let’s came to the floor, transportation. Sen- are suffering because of ObamaCare. make that continuing resolution a ator PATTY MURRAY brought it to the ObamaCare isn’t working. Yet fun- clean CR, which means let’s get rid of floor. We wanted to bring this first damentally there are politicians in this the political riders. Our goal in Decem- spending bill to the floor. Let’s debate body who are not listening to the peo- ber is that we pass an omnibus bill that it, let’s get it done. The Republicans ple. They are not listening to the con- is affordable, sensible, meets compel- objected to considering this appropria- cerns of their constituents, they are ling human needs, national security tions bill on the floor. They objected to not listening to the jobs lost or the needs, our human infrastructure, and a conference committee on a budget, people forced into part-time work, to also lays the groundwork for new jobs they objected to the spending bills, and the people losing their health insur- by funding research and development, here we are at the eleventh hour, ap- ance, to the people who are struggling. at the same time to cancel sequester, proaching October 1, without the A great many Texans, a great many because we have arrived at it in a bal- money to continue the functions of Americans feel they don’t have a voice. anced way where, yes, we can make ad- government. We are facing a slowdown I hope to play some very small part in ditional strategic cuts, where we also this week, and we are going to begin helping provide that voice for them. I need to look at some of the items of what may not technically be a fili- intend to speak in opposition to mandatory spending, and let’s look at buster but at least is a delay in meet- ObamaCare, I intend to speak in sup- some revenue. I think we can do it. ing our responsibility to fund our gov- port of defunding ObamaCare, until I If we want to project American ernment. am no longer able to stand, to do ev- power, the way to do that is right now Some have said—the House Repub- erything I can to help Americans stand show that we can govern. Let’s not get licans and others—if you do not stop together and recognize this grand ex- ourselves into a box where we are head- President Obama’s health care reform periment 31⁄2 years ago is, quite simply, ing to a showdown. Let’s not get our- act, we will shut down the government. not working. selves in a situation where we end up That isn’t fair. As Senator MIKULSKI I also say at the outset that I am par- with a shutdown. This will not be a has said, there are people across Amer- ticularly honored to be standing side way that builds confidence, builds our ica counting on the functions of our by side with my friend and colleague economy, and makes America continue government. This notion that we are Senator MIKE LEE from Utah. Senator to be as strong as it can be. somehow going to shut down the gov- LEE has shown visionary leadership in Madam President, I yield the floor. ernment with this political threat is standing and taking the mantle of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- unacceptable—unacceptable to the leading the effort to defund ObamaCare ator from Illinois. American people and unacceptable to and to challenge this train wreck of a Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, it is this great institution. law, and Senator LEE has been repaid my understanding that under unani- Senator MIKULSKI is correct: We at times with vilification from official mous consent the Senator from Texas ought to have a short-term CR so we Washington.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.024 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6702 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 In my judgment there is no Senator ing health benefits. It is shattering the that Congress is held in such low es- in this body, Republican or Democrat, economy. All across the country in all teem. This is unfortunately a bipar- who is more principled, who is more 50 States—it doesn’t matter what State tisan issue, on both sides. dedicated, who is more fearless and you go to, you can go to any State in We need to do a better job of listen- willing to fight for the principles that the Union, it doesn’t matter if you are ing to the people. If the top priority of make this Nation great than is Senator talking to Republicans or Democrats the American people is jobs and the MIKE LEE. It is a singular privilege to or Independents or Libertarians— economy, I am going to suggest the top serve with him and to stand side by Americans understand this thing is not priority of Congress should be jobs and side with him and so many others in working. the economy. this body, and, even more importantly, Yet Washington is pretending not to Madam President, you and I should so many millions of Americans all know. Washington is pretending to both be scratching our heads, trying to across this country. have no awareness. Instead we have think about a time when we weren’t There is a problem in Washington, politicians giving speeches about how talking about jobs and the economy be- and the problem is bigger than a con- wonderful ObamaCare is. At the same cause, I tell you, we certainly have not tinuing resolution. It is bigger than time they go to the President and ask gotten it taken care of yet. The Amer- ObamaCare. It is even bigger than the for an exemption from ObamaCare for ican people are frustrated because their budget. The most fundamental problem Members of Congress. elected officials do not listen. and the frustration is that the men and If ObamaCare is so wonderful, why is When we are home on the campaign women in Washington aren’t listening. it that its loudest advocates don’t want trail, we say we listen. Yet something If you talk to the man and woman on to be subject to it? I will confess that about this Senate floor, something the street, that is the message you is a very difficult one to figure out. about Washington, DC—I don’t know if hear over and over again: Why don’t DC is using a rigged process to keep it is the water, something in the air, they listen to me? Why don’t they hear ObamaCare funded, to keep this job- the cherry blossoms, but people get what we have to say? They aren’t lis- killing bill funded. What they want to here and they stop listening to the tening to the millions of people, Demo- do fundamentally is ignore the men American people. crats, Republicans, Independents, Lib- and women of America and keep up As I traveled throughout the State of ertarians, across the spectrum who say with business as usual. People wonder Texas—I spent the month of August our elected officials get to Washington why Congress has such low approval and the beginning of September trav- and they stop listening to the people. ratings. I remember when all 100 of us eling virtually every day on the road We just had a 6-week recess during were in the historic Senate Chamber throughout Texas and across the coun- August where a substantial percentage for a bipartisan meeting. Multiple Sen- try listening, hearing the stories. The of Members of Congress chose not to ators stood and expressed frustration American people are hurting. This is a hold townhalls during the 6 weeks we with the low approval ratings that difficult time. The very rich, they are had to be back in our home States, not Congress has. It varies—sometimes, 10, doing fine. In fact, they are doing bet- even to give their constituents a 12, 14 percent—but it is always abys- ter under President Obama than they chance to say their views, because it is mal. were before. But hard-working Amer- very easy when those of us who are in Some suggested the reason was that ican families are struggling and their elected office have been here for a long we are not legislating enough. We just life has become harder and harder and time to believe Washington knows bet- need to pass some more laws and the harder. ter; to believe that all the solutions are American people will be happy. I have ObamaCare is the biggest job killer found in Washington, DC, and the rest to admit, that does not comport with in this country. The American people of the country is better—as they say of just about anything I have ever heard want to stop this madness, and so do I. small children—seen but not heard. in the State of Texas. That doesn’t In Washington, we pass million-dollar We need millions of people to get an comport with anything I have ever bills, billion-dollar bills no one has answer. Millions of people are asking heard from constituents. I am going to ever read, often without even voting on for accountability, for responsibility, suggest the most fundamental reason them. We call it unanimous consent. It for truth from their elected officials, Congress remains in the low teens in is only unanimous because they don’t truth about how ObamaCare is failing approval ratings is because Congress is let anyone know. the men and women of America. It is not listening to the American people. In Washington, we spend $2 trillion time, quite simply, to make DC listen. Every poll that has been done for more than last year and then tell vot- That is a point I intend to make over years, when we ask the American peo- ers we saved money. The system is de- and over, because it is fundamentally ple what is their top priority, the an- liberately designed to hide what we are what we are trying to do. We are trying swer is consistently jobs and the econ- actually doing. to gather the American people to make omy—over and over, jobs and the econ- In this debate right now over DC listen. omy. That is national. That is in your ObamaCare and the continuing resolu- The whole debate we are having is State, my State. That is in all 50 tion, voting to pass bills is called pro- not over strategy. It is not about proc- States. Jobs and the economy is the cedure, as if it doesn’t matter. We pre- ess. It is not about procedure. If you answer you get. It is also not partisan. tend it doesn’t matter. It does matter. read the papers it looks like it is. If You can ask Republicans, ask Demo- Our leaders right now demand approval you read the papers it is all sorts of crats, you can ask Independents. They for bills before they are amended: Ev- confusing cloture on the motions to say we need jobs, we need economic eryone come to the floor, vote for the the what-the, to the which-the. To any- growth back. bill. Then we will amend it to make it one outside of DC, their eyes glaze Yet I will tell you, Madam Presi- say the opposite of what it says right over. Even to anyone in Washington, dent—you and I have both served in now, but you have already voted so DC, their eyes glaze over. this institution some 9 months, not don’t worry about it. We are told to This is also not about pollsters. It is very long, but in the time we have been agree to the bills without even know- not about pundits or consultants or here we have spent virtually zero time ing what the final product will be and those who are making money back and even talking about jobs and the econ- that is what is happening right now. forth on the political process. They omy. It doesn’t make the agenda. It ap- Our leaders in both parties are asking have always been with us, and I am parently is not important enough for us to support a bill, to cut off debate confident they will remain with us for this body’s time. We spent 6 weeks on a bill without even knowing what is all time. The problem is DC is not lis- talking about guns, talking about tak- in it. tening. The problem is our elected ing away law-abiding citizens’ Second It is as the former Speaker of the leaders are not listening to their con- Amendment rights, and we spend vir- House NANCY PELOSI once observed: stituents. tually no time talking about funda- Pass it to find out what is in it. That Everyone in America understands mental tax reform, about regulatory is how Washington does business. ObamaCare is destroying jobs. It is reform, about getting the economy Let me tell you how this is likely to driving up health care costs. It is kill- going. And politicians wonder why it is unfold. Senate majority leader HARRY

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.025 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6703 REID has said he intends to offer an going to make one iota of difference to are not supposed to speak for the peo- amendment to determine the future of the American people because they will ple. There is a way things are done in our health care system and based on never become law, but we will get to Washington and make no mistake, DC the public press reports—and I would vote over and over again in proving depends upon Americans not paying at- note you have to rely on the public how committed we are to principle A, tention. press reports because this body doesn’t B, C, D or E, that curiously would They know most Americans are quite know, but based on the public press re- make a significant number of Senators reasonably working too hard to provide ports, that amendment is going to fully happy. for their family. They are too busy fund ObamaCare. It is going to strip Our constituents deserve more—no spending time with their friends and the language the House of Representa- more fake fights, no more hiding our family. They are too busy working to tives passed to defund ObamaCare and votes, no more games, no more trying try to make sure their family is pro- listen to the American people. to fool the American people. We need vided for. They are going to church. The central vote the Senate will take to make DC listen—make DC listen. I They are dealing with the day-to-day on this fight will not occur today and want to stand and fight for the more burdens of life. You know what they it will not occur tomorrow. The first than 1.6 million Americans who signed have learned? The American people vote we are going to take on this is a a national petition against ObamaCare have learned when we get involved, vote on what is called cloture on the and to the millions more who did not even then it seems as though Wash- motion to proceed. Very few people not because they were told by a politician ington politicians rarely listen. on this floor have any idea what that it is not possible—don’t even try to I believe that can change. I am stand- means and even, I suspect, a fair num- fight because it is not possible. ing here today to salute, to celebrate ber of people on this floor are not quite I am reminded of a children’s story. the American democratic system. I am sure what that means. That will simply My wife Heidi and I are blessed to have standing here today to suggest that if be a vote whether to take up this bill two little girls, Caroline and Catherine, Senators listen to their constituents, if and to begin debating this bill. I expect ages 5 and 2, and one of their favorite we listen to the American people, the that vote to pass overwhelmingly, if children’s stories, actually from when I vote would be 100 to 0 to defund not unanimously. Everyone agrees we was a kid, is ‘‘The Little Engine That ObamaCare. Even those Senators who ought to take this up, we ought to Could’’—the train going up that said voted for it who might have believed it start this conversation. over and over again, ‘‘I think I can. I would work. Many of us would have The next vote we take will occur on think I can.’’ disagreed. Had I been here, not surpris- Friday or Saturday and it will be on I have to say, if we listen to a lot of ingly, I would have voted against what is called cloture on the bill. That Members of this body, the message ObamaCare 31⁄2 years ago. A number of is the vote that matters. Cloture on would be simple. That little engine Members in this body voted in favor of the bill, the vote Friday or Saturday, can’t. What they say to that train it. Regardless of how Members voted is the vote that matters. when it starts at the bottom of the hill 31⁄2 years ago, one of the great virtues Why is that? Because that vote is is, no, you can’t. of life is learning, looking at the evi- subject to a 60-vote threshold. If Re- I think I can. I think I can. dence, looking at the facts, and seeing publicans vote with Democrats, then No, you can’t. No, you can’t. We when something is not working. this body will cut off debate on the bill. can’t win. You can’t stop ObamaCare. Look at the labor unions. Three-and- Cloture is simply cutting off debate. It It cannot be done. It is impossible. a-half years ago the labor unions were is saying we are not going to talk There is nothing we can do. enthusiastically supporting about it anymore, we are silencing the Are millions of Americans out of ObamaCare. Why? Because they heard voice of the Senate, we are silencing work? Yes. Are millions of Americans the promises. They heard it was going the voice of the people, and we are cut- struggling? Yes. Are millions of Ameri- to work, and that it would be a bo- ting off debate. cans seeing their health insurance pre- nanza for all. They believed the prom- Why does that matter? Because once miums skyrocket? Yes. Are millions of ises, and that is understandable. Yet cloture is invoked, the rules of the Sen- Americans at risk of losing their one of the things we have seen this ate allow the majority leader to intro- health insurance because of year is one labor union after another duce the amendment to fund ObamaCare? Yes. after another saying: Whoa. This thing ObamaCare and then to have it pass But Washington tells our constitu- isn’t working. This thing is hurting us. with just 51 votes, not 60—51. As the ents: No, no, never mind. It can’t be This thing is hurting our Members. Presiding Officer is well aware, there done. It cannot be done. It is impos- (Mr. MANCHIN assumed the Chair.) are more than 51 Democrats in this sible. The rules of Washington say this By the way, the people whom it is body. Postcloture, after this body has cannot be done. hurting are hard-working men and voted to cut off debate, the Democrats And we wonder why this body has women and hard-working American can vote on a straight party-line vote such low approval among the people. families. They are the ones getting to fund ObamaCare. Madam President, When we go out and tell the American hammered. I am going to let you in on a dirty lit- people it cannot be done, there is noth- James Huff, the president of the tle secret. When that happens, every ing that can be done to stop Teamsters, has said ObamaCare is de- Republican, if we get to that point, will ObamaCare, what we are saying is we stroying the 40-hour workweek. It is vote against it and every Republican are not willing to do it. We are not destroying the backbone of the Amer- will then go home to his or her State willing to stand and fight. ican middle class. That is not me say- and say: Look, I voted against We are willing to give speeches. Oh, ing that, that is not any politician ObamaCare. yes, if we want to have a speech con- from Washington saying that, that is That is actually the preferred out- test, we can line up and fall over back- the Teamsters. come, to have a vote but yet to have ward who can give the best speech We should submit the question to the the result be business as usual con- against ObamaCare. But when it comes American people: Do the American tinue in Washington. It is a little bit to actually standing and fighting, when people want to destroy the 40-hour akin to the World Wrestling Federa- it comes to actually having the oppor- workweek that is the backbone of the tion, wrestling matches where it is all tunity to listen to the American peo- American middle class? That is not a rigged. The outcome is predetermined. ple, an awful lot of Members of this close question. People talk about how They know in advance who is going to body, at least so far, have not shown up we are a 50–50 Nation and how there is win and lose and it is all for show. to battle. a tight partisan divide. I don’t believe There are some Members of this body, There are a lot of folks in the Wash- it. I think on questions such as that if we could have 100 show votes, saying ington establishment who do not want there is an overwhelming majority of here is what we are for, but mind you, to hear from us. The chattering class is Americans who say of course we should none of them are actually going to quick to discipline anyone who refuses not destroy the 40-hour workweek. Of change the law, none of them are actu- to blindly fall in line. That is the way course we shouldn’t break the back- ally going to occur, none of them are Washington plays. There are rules. We bone of the American middle class.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.026 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6704 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 If more politicians listened to the We have to accept malaise. We have to sounded good. Any of us who liked our people, we would respond and avert accept second-class citizenship. They health insurance wanted to keep it. We this train wreck. Yet the politicians of have a lot of weapons. We cannot pos- liked that promise. That is the kind of Washington tell us: Don’t worry about sibly stand up to the Soviet Union. promise we like from our candidates it. ObamaCare is going to be peachy There was a President—a President and our officeholders. keen. The Senate is too busy to do any- whom I admired deeply, President Ron- Yet as I mentioned earlier, one of the thing to avert this train wreck. ald Reagan—who had the temerity to great faculties of higher reason is the Mind you, the Senate is not too busy say: What is your strategy on the Cold ability to learn—the ability to learn to exempt ourselves from it. We know War? Answer: We win, they lose. from evidence and facts. We have enough to say: We don’t want to be a At the time those same Washington learned that promise did not, in fact, part of this thing. The American people founts of wisdom said: It can’t be done. meet reality because the reality is mil- know it can’t be done. Nothing can be No, no, no, we can’t win. Winning is a lions of Americans are at risk of losing done. We need to accept it. two-dimensional strategy. We need to their health insurance. Americans have never been people be much more nuanced than that. We A few weeks ago UPS sent a letter to who accept failure. Americans have need to push for detente, whatever that 15,000 employees and it said: We are never been people who accept impos- means. We need to push for something terminating spousal health insurance sibility. If we look to a ragtag bunch of short of actually winning. because of ObamaCare. Their husbands colonists in the 18th century, the idea So we get to ObamaCare, and what do and wives were told: Sorry, your health that we would stand up to Great Brit- all of those voices say? It cannot be insurance is gone. Remember, the ain, the British Army—the most stopped. It can’t be done. We cannot promise was: If you like your health in- mighty military force on the face of defund it. By any measure ObamaCare surance, you can keep it. For those the planet—was impossible. It can’t be is a far less intimidating foe than those 15,000 UPS employees—for their hus- done. I guarantee that all of the pun- I have discussed, with the possible ex- bands and wives—that promise has dits we see going on TV and intoning in ception of the Moon. The Moon might been disproved by reality. This body deep baritone voices: This cannot be be as intimidating as ObamaCare. Yet would step up and stop ObamaCare if done—if we were back in the 18th cen- those same voices of Washington give we did just one thing: if we listened to tury, they would be writing messages the same message that they have said our constituents. So together that is in dark ink and sending it by carrier over and over and over again, which is what we have to do: Make DC listen. pigeon, saying: This cannot be done. the opposite of the message of the lit- A lot of folks in Washington are You can’t stand up to the British tle engine that could: No, you can’t. It angry we are even having this fight. A Army. It can’t be done. It is impos- can’t be done. No, we can’t. lot of folks in Washington are angry— sible. Accept your subjugation. Accept What should we have instead of you it is fascinating how many politicians your taxation without representation. know what? We hear echoes from the in Washington think this isn’t even Accept that this is impossible. past battles. We ought to have a vote worth our time. I will point out, as is If we fast forward to the Civil War— where we can go to our constituents usually the case—almost always the a time of enormous pain, anguish, and and say: By golly, we really, really, case—the Senate floor is largely bloodshed in the United States—there really dislike ObamaCare. Can we add a empty. Everyone’s schedules are appar- were a lot of voices then who said the couple of more reallys? I want to make ently busy enough that standing and Union cannot be saved. It cannot be it clear that it is really, really, really. coming together to stop ObamaCare done. Accept defeat. I suspect those We wonder why our constituents look doesn’t make it onto the priority list. same pundits, had they been around in at us and say: What on Earth are you We ought to have all 100 Senators on the mid-19th century, would have writ- doing? Do you actually care that we this floor around the clock until we ten the same columns: This cannot be are losing our jobs? Do you actually come together and stop ObamaCare. If done. care that we can’t find a job? Do you they talked to their constituents, that If we go to the 1940s, Nazi Germany— care that our small businesses are not is what they would like. If they would look, we saw it in Britain. Neville growing? Do you care that health in- talk to their constituents, their con- Chamberlain told the British people: surance premiums for people who are stituents would say: What possibly do Accept the Nazis. Yes, they will domi- struggling are skyrocketing? Do you you have to do that is more important nate the continent of Europe, but that care that more and more Americans than getting the economy moving is not our problem. Let’s appease them. are losing their health insurance? again and bringing back jobs? What Why? Because it can’t be done. We can- We don’t need fake fights. We don’t possibly do you have to do that is more not possibly stand against them. need fake votes. We need real change. important than stopping me from los- In America there were voices who lis- We need a better economy. We need ing my health insurance or stopping tened to that; I suspect the same pun- more jobs. We need more freedom. And me from losing my health care? That is dits who said it couldn’t be done. If what is critical in doing that is stop- what I hear from my constituents over this had happened in the 1940s, we ping ObamaCare because Americans and over again. I am confident the Pre- would have been listening to them. should not have to worry about what siding Officer hears it from his con- Even then they would have made tele- Washington is doing to them, what stituents. Every one of us hears it from vision. They would have gotten beyond Washington is doing to make their life our constituents because that is what the carrier pigeons and letters and harder, what Washington is doing to Americans are saying in all 50 States. they would have been on TV saying: take away their job, what Washington We should not have to worry about You cannot defeat the Germans. is doing to drive up their health insur- what the next rule, the next regula- If we go to the late 1960s when a ance premiums, what Washington is tion, or the next tax is that is going to President, John F. Kennedy, told this doing to jeopardize the health insur- be handed down from the DC ruling country: We are going to send a man to ance they have now. class. the Moon—when John F. Kennedy told I cannot tell the Presiding Officer ObamaCare alone has produced over this country we are going to send a how many times across the State of 20,000 pages of regulation. I am con- man to the Moon, there were a lot of Texas I have had men and women come fident the Presiding Officer has not people who said: It cannot be done. It is up to me—some with disabilities and read 20,000 pages of ObamaCare regula- impossible. It cannot be done. Yet John some in wheelchairs—and say: Please, tions. I can tell the Presiding Officer I F. Kennedy had the vision to say stop this bill. Stop ObamaCare because have not read 20,000 pages of Americans can do things—whatever we I don’t want to lose my health insur- ObamaCare regulations. I would wager set our minds to. ance. It is jeopardizing the health in- all the money in my bank account If we go to the late 1970s and 1980s, we surance coverage I have now. there is no Member in this body who were in the midst of the Cold War. I re- We all remember when President has read 20,000 pages of ObamaCare reg- member growing up in the Cold War. I Obama told the American people: If ulation. remember being told the Soviet Union you like your health insurance, you Yet what is Washington telling small cannot be defeated. It cannot be done. can keep it. Now at the time that businesses all across the country? You

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.028 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6705 are bound by 20,000 pages of ObamaCare what the Senate is doing to listen to Why are the people unhappy with regulation, and more and more is com- you, the answer, right now, is an empty Washington? Why are they disgusted ing. There is another 3,000 pages added Chamber. with Washington? Because Washington every 6 months. So it is going to keep Our system was based on a profound is not listening to them. There is a coming and coming and coming. notion: that sovereignty resides with game instead that is focused on main- I remember doing a tele-townhall the American people, that every one of taining the status quo. Staying in of- several months ago, and a woman who us—sometimes people in the Senate be- fice—that is what is important because owns a small business asked: How do I have as if they have no bosses, as if it is apparently very important to be comply with all of these regulations? they are autonomous rulers. And Wash- invited to all the right cocktail parties How do I comply with the burdens of ington is a little bit of a town that in town. I will confess, I do not go to a ObamaCare? It was quite striking. She treats the people in Washington—they whole lot of cocktail parties in town. I said: I don’t even know where to start. behave like kings and queens of their am pretty sure you do not either. But I will confess that I felt embarrassed own fiefdoms. Yet every one of us has there are Members of this body for because I said: Ma’am, I don’t know a whole lot of bosses. In my instance, I whom that is very important. how to tell you that. have 26 million bosses back home in At the end of the day, we do not work The complexity is so much that it is Texas. Who are the 26 million Texans for those holding cocktail parties in causing more and more small busi- whom I work to represent? Those who Washington, DC. We do not work for nesses to stay small—avoid ObamaCare supported me and those who did not. It the intelligentsia in the big cities who altogether. They can’t decipher the is my job to represent every one of write newspaper editorials. We work rules and regulations so they don’t. If them, to fight for every one of them. for the American people. We work for they have under 50 employees, they can The most fundamental problem, bigger single moms. We work for young peo- get out from under it. than ObamaCare, is the problem that ple. We work for seniors who are strug- I cannot tell you how many small Washington has stopped listening to gling. We work for Hispanics, for Afri- businesses are not hiring right now. If the American people. can Americans. We work for every they have 30 or 40 employees, they are It is quite striking that in discus- American who believes in the Amer- not subject to ObamaCare, but if they sions about ObamaCare among elected ican dream. get the fiftieth employee, that fiftieth officials, we hear more complaints This body is not listening to the peo- employee better be one heck of an em- about ‘‘I don’t like all the phone calls ple. Indeed, the very fact that over 1.6 ployee, because the instant he or she I am getting from my constituents’’ million Americans have signed a peti- shows up on the payroll, boom, the en- than we do about ObamaCare. It is ap- tion, have picked up the phone, have tire business is subject to 20,000 pages parently an imposition on some Mem- been calling offices in this great Cham- of regulations and crushing costs. bers of this body for their constituents ber is viewed as an inappropriate impo- To the men and women at home to pick up the phone and express their sition. What an indictment of this body today who are out of a job, I point out views. It is viewed as somehow illegit- that we think it is somehow illegit- to you that if it were not for imate. How dare they? Apparently, imate that the American people would ObamaCare, every small business that standing on those steps and taking the ask us not to focus on irrelevant prior- has an opportunity to expand right now oath of office invests 100 people with ities. It is not like the American people and is not expanding because of somehow greater wisdom, greater in- are calling, saying focus on some paro- ObamaCare—that is a job you are not sight, more brain cells. Our constitu- chial issue. By the way, phone calls are able to get. ents—there is a tendency in this town, not coming from our districts saying: Do you want to know why the job particularly as time goes on, to view Senator, please take more of the Amer- economy is so bad, why there are so our constituents as an annoyance. ican people’s tax money and send it few jobs, why we have the lowest work- Today—just today—I have heard back to our district. We would like force participation in decades in the multiple Senators complaining: too some more pork. United States? Small businesses gen- many phone calls from my constitu- Those are not the calls. Those are erate two-thirds of all new jobs in the ents. What a remarkable complaint. not the calls we are getting. The calls economy, and small businesses have What a remarkable complaint. are from people who are saying: Listen, been hammered under ObamaCare un- Mr. President, you and I have both jobs and the economy is my No. 1 pri- like ever before. worked in the private sector. In the ority. Why isn’t it Congress’s? Jobs and If we listened to our constituents, we private sector, if your boss picked up the economy matter. Why? Because if would step forward and act to avert the phone and called, I suspect neither you are working, if you are working in this train wreck. The only way that you nor I sat at our computer playing a good job, you are providing for your will happen is if the American people Solitaire when our boss picked up the family. It makes it easier for families demand it, if together we make DC lis- phone and called. Neither one of us to stay together. Moms and dads—it ten. That is what this fight is about. It said: Boss, I am too busy. Boss, I don’t makes it easier for them to raise their is about ensuring that the American want to listen. You may have some pri- kids, raise them with good values. It people have a voice, ensuring that orities for the business but not me. I makes it easier for them to provide a those who are struggling, those who know better than you. good education for their kids. are without a job, those who are afraid None of us did that. Because in the When you have one job, it lets you of losing their health insurance—that private sector, there is a quick and im- begin to climb the economic ladder to Washington listens to them, that mediate response. If you tell your boss a better job and a better job and a bet- Washington acts on their needs. in the private sector: Hey, boss, my ter job. That is the American spirit. Anyone who wants to know why this time is too important for you; I don’t Yet we have tens of millions of people body is held in low esteem only has to care about your priorities; I am not in this country out of work. Every look out to the empty chairs. If you going to listen to you, I suspect that month we get the reports from the Bu- are out of a job, wondering what the will be your last day at that place of reau of Labor Statistics that say even Senate is doing to get our economy employment. more people have given up looking for moving, to help small businesses create Why is Washington broken? Because work. new jobs so you can go to work and you have 100 people, a significant num- The odd way our unemployment sta- provide for your family, the answer is ber of whom, on a daily basis, tell their tistics work, that makes the number displayed right in front of you. boss, tell their constituents: I am too the newspapers report go down. Be- If you are concerned about the health busy for you. cause when a few hundred thousand care for yourself, for your family, if Don’t even bother to call my office people say: All right, I give up, it is so you are seeing more and more people because it just ties up my staff. It is hopeless, I will never find a job, that, losing their health insurance and you annoying. I know better than you do. I curiously, results in the unemployment are saying: ‘‘What about my family? know the priorities better than you do. number going down because the num- What if I lose my health insurance be- What a broken system. What a bro- ber that gets reported in the papers is cause of ObamaCare?’’ and you ask ken system. We work for the people. a measure of a percentage of how many

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.029 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6706 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 of the people looking for work are un- away from her kids even more. She What the American people care about able to find it. does not have health insurance at ei- is having a job with a future, not a job I am going to suggest that people ther job now. But she has to travel where they are working 29 hours a giving up is even worse. What a sad tes- from one to the other. She has to deal week, where they are punching a clock, tament, given the American spirit, the with two conflicting schedules because where they feel as though they are just American spirit that we can do any- one job wants her to work Tuesday, going through the motions, but a job thing we set our minds to, that any- and the other job wants her to work at where they say: Hey, I have a career. I one—the great blessings of this Nation that same time on Tuesday. She has to can see the next step. I can see the fu- have been fundamentally that it does go to both of her bosses. Both of them ture for my family. That is what the not matter who you are, it does not say: You need to be there Tuesday American people care about. matter who your daddy was, it does not afternoon. Who is speaking for that So regardless of the rocks that will matter whether you were born into single mom right now? be thrown—and they will continue to great wealth and privilege and advan- On Friday or Saturday of this week be thrown—I have no intention of en- tage or whether you were born into we will vote on cloture. Anyone who gaging in that game, no intention of humble means, anyone in this country votes yes for cloture, anyone who votes speaking ill of any Senator, Republican can achieve anything based on hard to cut off debate on this bill, is voting or Democratic, because it is not about work, perseverance, and based on the to allow Senate majority leader HARRY us. Anyone who is trying to make this content of your character. What a tre- REID to fully fund ObamaCare. That is a battle of personalities is trying to mendous, unique blessing that is in the a vote that I think is a profound mis- change the topic from the topic that United States of America. The reason take. It is a vote that I hope all 46 Re- should matter: whether ObamaCare is this ObamaCare fight matters so much publicans will stand united against. It helping the American people. is that is imperiled right now. In order is a vote that, in time, I hope more If we focus on the substance, the evi- for anyone with nothing to achieve than a few Democrats will stand dence is overwhelming. This law is a anything, they have to be able to get a against. train wreck. Every day the headlines job to start. They have to get on to the To fix the problems in this country, come in: more jobs lost, more people first rung of the economic ladder to this does not have to be a partisan losing their health insurance, more have a chance of getting to the second issue. Many of the President’s most premiums going up, more people or the third or the fourth or the fifth. vocal supporters have started coming pushed into part-time work. Yet every Just a week ago the Wall Street out against ObamaCare. Why? Because day the Senate goes about its business Journal had a long article about the the facts show it is not working, be- and says: We are too busy to listen to ‘‘lost generation,’’ about young people cause if you get beyond the team men- the American people. coming out of school in the last few tality in Washington, if you get beyond There are different games, to be sure, years who have not gotten their first the partisan focus in Washington and that go on on both sides of the aisle. job or who have gotten a part-time job. you ask, is this thing good for the Many of our friends on the Democratic Because of ObamaCare, their employer American people, it is very hard on the side of the aisle right now endeavor to does not want to hire them for 40 hours merits to make the case that it is. convince the American people: Pay no a week, so they get hired for 29 hours a It is very hard. It is quite interesting attention to your lying eyes; week. that in the course of this debate there ObamaCare really is terrific. That is Think about young people. If they do have been more than a few newspaper not going terribly well. But on the Re- not get that first job, they are not articles, more than a few attacks from publican side of the aisle, there is a lot going to get the second, they are not our friends on the Democratic side of of energy and attention focused on say- going to get the third. The impact for the aisle and also from our friends on ing: Well, yes, ObamaCare is terrible, young people right now that the Republican side of the aisle. but under no circumstances could we ObamaCare is having is absolutely dev- I told my wife that I now pick up the ever do anything about it. That is be- astating. What this Wall Street Jour- newspaper each day to learn just what yond us. We are destined to lose. So nal article was saying is that the eco- a scoundrel I am and just what attacks what we are interested in on the Re- nomic data shows that impact will be have come, some on the record and publican side of the aisle is let’s cast a with them their entire lives; that when some—actually the ones that are often show vote—2, 3, 10—as many votes as they start off their career not gaining even better are the anonymous ones. I possible to say: ObamaCare is really skills, not working, not climbing the have to say there is no courage like the bad. We cannot fix it. economic ladder, that delay will stick courage in Washington of the anony- You know, that problem—it crosses with them forever. mous congressional staffers. I have that middle line. Whether you are tell- What a travesty. Where is the out- chuckled at more than a few of them. ing your constituents it is really work- rage? Where is the outrage? Where are You know, it says something when ing out well despite the objective facts the Senators standing here saying: Members of this body, the congres- to the contrary or whether you are What a travesty that young people are sional staffers, and members of the telling your constituents: I agree, it is being denied a fair shot at the Amer- media want to make this about person- a terrible thing, but I cannot do any- ican dream because of what we have alities. They want to make this about thing to fix it, in both cases you are wrought because of ObamaCare. That a battle of this Senator versus that not listening to the people. That is should unite all of us. If we were listen- Senator, this person versus that per- something we need to correct. All of ing to the American people, that would son, so it is all personal. It is like read- us, all 100 of us—we need to listen to be where our attention would lie. ing the Hollywood gossip pages. That is the people. Together, we need to make Fundamentally, what this week is how this issue is covered. It is not by DC listen. If we do not, the frustration about is that we need to make DC lis- accident because one of the ways Wash- will grow. If we do not, the disillusion ten, make them listen to the single ington has discovered for not listening with Washington will grow. If we do mom working at a diner, struggling to to the people is distraction. Distract not, the approval rating of Congress feed her kids, who has just been told the voters with smoke and mirrors. will keep going down, keep going down, she is being reduced to 29 hours a week. This fight is not about any Member keep going down. The only way to fix Who is speaking for that single mom of this body. This fight is not about this problem is to demonstrate that we right now? Who is talking about how personality. Look, most Americans understand—we understand the fact ObamaCare is forcing more and more could not give a flying flip about a that we are not driven by partisan ide- people into part-time employment? bunch of politicians in Washington. ology; that we are driven by doing our And, by the way, she does not get Who cares? You know, almost all of us jobs and listening to the American peo- health insurance. Instead, forced into are in cheap suits and have bad hair- ple. 29 hours a week, what does that single cuts. Who cares? What the American It is my fervent hope that over the mom do? She gets a second job. So now people care about is their own lives. course of this week, over the course of she is working two jobs, with 29 hours What the American people care about this debate, that all 46 Senators on the a week for both of them. Now she is is giving their kids a better future. Republican side will unite and that

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.031 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6707 more and more Democrats will come Just last Friday we saw Home see a dip in their well-being, a dip in together and say: Listen, we have an Depot—one of America’s great compa- their standard of living if, instead of obligation to our constituents. That is nies, one of America’s great success receiving welfare benefits, they decide an obligation we are going to honor. stories, one of America’s great employ- instead to shed those benefits and go Mr. LEE. Will the Senator yield for a ers—announce that 20,000 employees on to an entry level job. That is sad. question? will be losing their health coverage. That is sad because that suggests that Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a How many more stories like this will our government—as well-intentioned question without yielding the floor. we have to hear before Congress does as many of those programs might be, Mr. LEE. I would ask my distin- something to protect Americans from they will have set in place a series of guished colleague, the Senator from the harmful effects of this law—a law conditions that trap people, especially Texas, a series of questions with regard that was passed a few years ago with- parents, into a vulnerable, poor condi- to this concept to make DC listen. It is out a single Republican vote in the tion. interesting that we are having this dis- House of Representatives; a law that If there is one thing that I think par- cussion right now at a time in our his- was passed a few years ago without a tory when never has it been easier for ents feel somewhat universally, it is a single Republican vote in the Senate; a degree of risk aversion. People do not so many people throughout the coun- law that was passed—all 2,700 pages as try with so few resources to be heard like to take risks that could jeopardize it was then constituted—without, as their ability to provide for their chil- by so many. far as I know, many, if any, Members In the past, you had to own a news- dren. If we set up a set of conditions in of this body or the other body in the paper or perhaps in more recent years which people, in order to maintain Capitol having had the opportunity you had to own a radio station or a tel- their level of certainty that they might evision company or something like fully to read it. Since then, of course, have while surviving under a system of that to be heard by a lot of people. But it has expanded. We have had an addi- welfare benefits provided by the Fed- these days pretty much anyone can tional 20,000 pages of regulations pro- eral Government—if they become gain access to a telephone or the Inter- mulgated, increasing rather exponen- locked into that, locked into poverty net, they can send an e-mail, they can tially the impact of this law. The popu- in perpetuity because of that, that is submit a post. It is one of the things larity of the law has not improved with disconcerting because the risk is al- that have made possible a groundswell time, just as the complexity of the law ways too high to make that jump to an of people—just a few minutes ago the has not become less problematic in the entry level job. Without the entry level Senator mentioned 1.6 million Ameri- intervening 31⁄2-year period. job, there will never be the secondary cans just in the last few weeks signing So as we look at this, we think about job, there will never be the first raise a petition asking for Congress to make the fact that it is important for Con- or the second raise or the first, second, a decision to protect the American peo- gress to listen to the American people. or third promotion. Without those ple from the harmful effects of Again, today it has never been so easy things, there is no ladder. Without ObamaCare. for so many Americans with so few re- those things, there is an opportunity They want government funded, just sources at their disposal to make sure lost and people remain on the bottom as we want government funded. They that they are, in fact, heard. So we rungs of that very ladder. have to ask ourselves the question—I want government to be able to con- We see at the top rung a system of have to ask the Senator the question: tinue to do the things government crony capitalism that sometimes has How long will it be before Congress does. They want people to be able to the impact of keeping some people and acts? rely on government to protect them, to some big businesses artificially held in protect our borders, to protect our sov- I am pleased that the Senator re- ferred to the opportunity crisis, the place at the top of the economic ladder ereignty, protect our homeland against at the expense of others, at the expense those who would harm us. They want economic opportunity crisis in Amer- ica. He referred to the economic ladder of would-be competitors who are driven government to be able to carry out its out or held out from the beginning basic functions and its responsibility. in this country. You know, I think it is an interesting fact and we need to con- from the competitive marketplace They want their government funded. through the oppressive intervention of But they do not want that held hostage sider that—according to one recent study published I believe just in the the government, through the govern- by something else. They do not want ment’s favoritism, and through the that funding tied to the funding of last few weeks—for the first time in American history, 40 percent of those government’s ability sometimes, re- ObamaCare in the sense that they want grettably, to choose winners and losers to keep government funded but they born in America, into the bottom quin- in the marketplace. want us to defund ObamaCare. tile of the American economy, the bot- The House of Representatives shows tom 20 percent of income earners in You see where most Americans are, that at least that side of DC, that side this country—40 percent of the bottom right in the middle of the ladder. On of the Capitol was listening. I applaud 20 percent will remain in the bottom 20 the middle rungs you see people work- the Speaker of the House and the other percent throughout the duration of ing, trying to get by from day to day. leaders in the House of Representatives their lifetime. To my knowledge, that They are able to survive, able to pro- who did that. That suggests to me that has never happened in this country. To vide for the basic needs of their fami- they were listening on that side of the my knowledge, this undercuts what has lies. But they would like to do better. Capitol. They had many millions of long been a very distinguishing, envi- They would like to be able to provide a Americans calling out on the tele- able characteristic of the United more comfortable living for their fami- phone, through mail, e-mail, every con- States. It is what has made this the lies. ceivable medium for relief from this greatest civilization the world has ever They find very often that no sooner bill. They listened. They listened be- known—the fact that this is a country do they find an increase in their in- cause they understand that the Amer- where regardless of where you were come than that same increase has been ican people are being hurt by this. born on the economic ladder, regard- gobbled up by a combination of oppres- They ask the same questions the Sen- less of the circumstances in which you sive taxes, oppressive regulations, and ator from Texas and I and others have came into this world or came into this a devastating impact of inflation. asked: How many more Americans will country, you could make it. In fact, When those things happen, we find peo- have to lose their jobs because of your chances of doing so were rel- ple are unable to make their way up ObamaCare before Congress acts? How atively strong. Yet 40 percent of those that economic ladder. many more Americans will have to see people, we now understand, will stay We find ourselves at a precipice of their wages or their hours cut as a re- there throughout the duration of their sorts. We find ourselves about to em- sult of this ill-conceived law before we lives. bark on a very bold experiment in do something about this? How many Another study came out, also a few which we rather dramatically expand more people will have to lose access to weeks ago, indicating that in 34 States the role of the Federal Government, in- health coverage before Congress does and the District of Colombia, an indi- jecting it more directly, more com- something? vidual or a family is actually likely to pletely, more dangerously into one of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.032 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6708 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 the most personal aspects of most peo- given to the people by grace, to be Kerrville is a delightful town in central ple’s lives, into the health care indus- taken away by the whim of the ruler. Texas. It is in the beautiful hill coun- try. This is an industry that comprises That has been the state of affairs for try. If anyone wants to come to Texas, a very significant portion of our Na- most of the history of humanity. I would encourage you. Kerrville is a tion’s economy in an area in which The founding of our Nation embodied great destination in Texas. people feel strongly about their own many revolutions. This was a small gathering in a res- right, about their own innate, inherent The first revolution was a revolution taurant, about 20 small business own- need and desire to maintain a degree of that was a bloody revolution fought ers. I asked each of them and I said: control that is not subject to the will with guns and bayonets. But even more Let’s go around the room. If each of and whim of government bureaucrats important than that revolution was you could introduce yourself, share a in Washington. the revolution of ideas that occurred. little bit about yourself, and then At the same time the government is The revolution of ideas that began this share a concern that is weighing on doing that, the government will be con- Nation was twofold. your heart. Share something you are suming an increasingly large share of First, America began from the pre- praying about, share something you the resources moving through our supposition that our rights come from are worried about, share something economy, making it even harder for God. It is for that reason the Declara- you are focused on right now. people who are trying to get by to do tion Of Independence begins: ‘‘We hold It was a totally open-ended question. so and to do so without undue inter- these truths to be self-evident, that all They could have talked about any issue ference from the government. men are created equal,’’ that we are en- under the Sun. They could have talked This is an issue that is important to dowed—not by a king, not by a queen, about Syria, guns, they could have so many people. This is an issue that not even by a President—but ‘‘endowed talked about anything. reminds people of the fact that when- by their Creator with certain We went around the table one after ever government acts, it does so at the unalienable Rights, that among these the other after the other. Over half of expense of our own individual liberty. are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of the small business owners around that It does so at the expense of our ability Happiness.’’ table said to me: TED, the single big- to live our lives as we would live them. That is and was a revolutionary idea, gest obstacle I face in my business is and it led to the second revolutionary It does so very often at the expense of ObamaCare. Hands down, not even aspect of the founding of our Nation the American economy. It does so very close, there is nothing that comes which was that we inverted the concept often at the expense of economic op- close. of sovereignty. For millennia sov- portunity for Americans, you see, be- It was striking. Of those 20, there ereignty began at the top. It was the were probably 4 or 5 of them who re- cause when we expand government, we ruler who was called the sovereign. The layed some version of this same story. expand its cost. We make ourselves as word sovereignty derives from that no- One was the fellow who owned the res- a country less free. We leave ourselves tion. Of course, the sovereign is where taurant we were meeting in. He said: with fewer alternatives. sovereignty resides. Is there a role for government to play You know, we have a great opportunity The American Framers turned that to expand our business. I have an op- in health care? Absolutely. Of course notion on its head. We said: There is no there is. No one disputes that. Are portunity to make the restaurant even sovereign. Sovereignty resides with we bigger, expand it, and from a business there improvements that can be made the people. That is why our Constitu- perspective, this opportunity looks to our health care system? Certainly tion begins ‘‘We the People,’’ because good. But he said: You know, we have there are. this Nation wasn’t founded by rulers, it But a 2,700-page law that was passed got between 20 and 30 employees. If we wasn’t founded by elected officials, it after Members of Congress were told expand the business we will go over 50. wasn’t even founded by States. It was And if we go over 50, we are subject to they had to pass it in order to find out founded by we the people, the Amer- what is in it, that has expanded since ObamaCare. If that happens, I will go ican people. That is the only place sov- out of business. So you know what. I then to include within its penumbra ereignty has ever resided in the United am not pursuing the expansion. I am 20,000 pages of regulatory text, a law States of America. not going to do it. We are going to stay that has become less and less popular The Constitution, in turn, was cre- the size we are. as time has gone on—this has become ated to lend power to government, not One person after another around the very difficult. We find this becomes to give it, to lend it and to lend it, I table said the same thing. They had 30 less and less something that the Amer- would suggest, only in good behavior. employees, 35, 40 employees. They had ican people support. Thomas Jefferson referred to the Con- great opportunities to go open another I would ask if Senator CRUZ feels stitution as chains that bind the mis- location, expand into a new aspect. One that the American people have every chief of government, that sovereignty after the other said: We will not do it, right to speak out on this. Specifically is an idea we need to get back to. because if we get over 50 employees, does the Senator feel the American I am going to suggest that for some ObamaCare will bankrupt us. people have every right to expect that time now the Senate has not behaved I want you to think about each of those of us serving in the Senate will as if we the people are sovereign. For those 4 or 5 businesses and the 10 or 20 do everything we possibly can, even some time the Senate has not behaved jobs that each of them didn’t create, casting difficult votes, even casting as if each of us collectively has 3 mil- isn’t creating right now because of procedural votes that might be dif- lion bosses. For a long time the Senate ObamaCare. Then I want you to mul- ficult to cast or difficult to explain? Do has behaved as if the rules that matter tiply that by thousands or tens of thou- they have every right to do that even if are the rules in Washington, DC. That sands of small businesses all across it causes great inconvenience for them is why the most important objective of this country that could be creating and for us in the process of complying this week is to make DC listen. The jobs. I want you to think about all the with their wishes? most important objective of this week people right now who are home want- Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from is to reassert that sovereignty is with ing to work. Utah for that very good question. The we the people, that calls from our con- There are, by the way, I will note, answer is absolutely yes. That is the stituents and townhalls are not a pesky some politicians who suggest that foundation of our Nation. If you look annoyance. It is the core of our job. It some people in this country are lazy at the history of government in the is the core of our job to listen to the and don’t want to work. I don’t believe world, it hasn’t been pretty. The his- sovereign, which is we the people. that. I think Americans want to work. tory of government for most of the ex- Right now we the people are hurting. Americans want the self-respect that istence of mankind has been a story of If you get outside Washington, DC, you comes from going to the office, from oppression, a story of rulers imposing ask them about ObamaCare over and working, from providing for your fam- their will on their subjects. For mil- over, and the answer you get is: This ily, from working to achieve the Amer- lennia, we were told that rights come thing isn’t working. ican dream. from government. They come from A few weeks ago I hosted a small Do some people give up? Sure. Can kings and queens, and they are to be business roundtable in Kerrville, TX. you give in to hopelessness? Yes. When

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.034 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6709 you keep banging your head against a hammered in recent decades. Yet this It has been reported—I was not serv- wall over and over again, trying to get small business owner said that because ing in this body at the time—that a job, and you don’t get anywhere, it is of ObamaCare, if he brought his manu- amendment was voted on and accepted only natural for people to feel despair. facturing back to the United States, because Democratic Senators believed I want you to think of the millions of his workers would all be subject to the bill would go to conference and in jobs we could have but for small busi- ObamaCare and he couldn’t be com- the conference committee they could nesses that are not growing, not ex- petitive in the business. It would drive strip it out and it would magically dis- panding, not creating those jobs. him out of business. appear. But then, because of the proce- Another small business owner around I would ask my colleagues to con- dural games it took to pass it, they that table owned several fast food res- sider each of those small business own- didn’t have the opportunity to do that, taurants. She had a problem. She ers and multiply it by the millions of and suddenly, horror of all horrors, this owned enough fast food restaurants small business owners across this coun- bill saying Congress should be bound that she had over 50 employees. I will try—the millions of small business by the same rules as the American peo- mention the restaurant business and owners who aren’t growing, the mil- ple became the law of the land. the fast food business side in particular lions of small business owners who are So what happened? Majority leader is quite labor dependent. I doubt if forcibly reducing their employees’ HARRY REID and Democratic Senators there is a sector in this economy that hours to 29 hours a week, the millions had a closed-door meeting with the has been hurt more than the labor in of small business owners who are con- President here in the Capitol where the fast food business. But her problem sidering moving operations overseas or they said, according to public news re- was she had enough stores so she was have already because of ObamaCare. ports: Let us out of ObamaCare. We over 50 employees, so that strategy Why is the economy gasping for don’t want to be in these exchanges. wouldn’t work for her. She described breath? Why are people not able to get One would assume they are reading how she has already forcibly reduced jobs? Because ObamaCare is killing the same news reports the rest of us the hours of every one of her employees jobs, and the Senate should listen to are reading—that ObamaCare is a train to 29 hours per week. the people. We need to make DC listen. wreck, that it is not working—and the I will tell you this woman almost Mr. VITTER. Will the Senator yield last thing Members of Congress wanted began to tear up. She was emotional. for a question? to do was to have their health care Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a She was not happy about this, to put it jeopardized. And the President directed question without yielding the floor. mildly. She said: Listen, we have been Mr. VITTER. I thank the Senator. his administration to exempt Members in business a long time. Many of these Does he acknowledge that he under- of Congress and their staff, ignoring employees we have known 10 or 20 stands, as I do, that as this mon- the language of the statute, dis- years. These are single moms. These strosity goes into effect October 1 and regarding the language of the statute are people—look, if you are working in as it has all of these really devastating and saying: You guys are friends of the a fast food restaurant you are not at impacts on individuals and small busi- administration. We are taking care of the pinnacle of your career. You are nesses, under a special illegal rule from you. struggling to pay the bills. These are the Obama administration, Congress I want to take a minute, in response single moms who are working hard and and Washington get an exemption; to this question, to commend the Sen- they can’t feed their kids on 29 hours a they get a special pass; they get a spe- ator from Louisiana. Senator VITTER week. But, you know, they can’t feed cial deal no other American gets under introduced an amendment to reverse their kids if I go out of business either. the law? this exemption, and it was a bold If we are subject to ObamaCare, we go Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator for amendment. It was an amendment that out of business. his question, and he is absolutely right. said we as Members of Congress should Why 29 hours a week? Well, just like There are many scandalous aspects of be subject to the same rules as the the 50-employee threshold, ObamaCare ObamaCare: how it was passed—on a American people. We shouldn’t be kicks in and counts an employee if he brutal partisan vote rammed through treated by special or different rules for or she works 30 hours a week. One of with late-night deals that have earned us. Indeed, the amendment of Senator the things that is forcing small busi- rather infamous nicknames, such as VITTER said Members of Congress nesses all over the country to do is to the ‘‘Cornhusker kickback,’’ which has should be subject to ObamaCare, our force their employees out of good full- sadly become part of modern political staff should be subject to ObamaCare, time jobs into 29 hours a week because lore; and the ‘‘Louisiana purchase,’’ and members of the administration— they don’t get hammered with the with all due respect to my friend from the political appointees of the Obama costs and burdens of ObamaCare. the great State of Louisiana, who was administration, who, by the way, are I will mention another small business not involved in that. And one of the not in the exchanges—should be too. So owner who I think will particularly hit most sorry aspects of ObamaCare is the if the President and Cabinet appointees home with the Presiding Officer be- aspect Senator VITTER refers to, which and his political officials want to go cause I know the issues that resonate is that President Obama has chosen, at into communities and tell everyone with him. This is an individual who the behest of majority leader HARRY how wonderful ObamaCare is, then let manufactures hunting blinds—actually REID, at the behest of Democratic them do so from personal experience. very interesting. They are hunting Members of the Senate, to exempt Let them do so not being exempted but blinds that are camouflaged to look Members of Congress and their staff subject to the same exchanges and sub- like trees. They are really very clever from the plain language of the statute. ject to the same rules the American creations. He described how he has When ObamaCare was being passed, people are. been forced to move his manufacturing Senator CHUCK GRASSLEY—a towering The reason I wish to commend the overseas, to move it to China. So right giant in this body; a strong, principled Senator from Louisiana is his intro- now he is manufacturing in China. conservative—introduced a common- ducing that amendment prompted a re- He said: Listen, I want to manufac- sense provision to ObamaCare that sponse that, I will suggest, brought dis- ture here in the United States. That said: If you are going to force grace and disrepute on this body. It matters to me. I care about that. ObamaCare on the American people, if prompted a political response that tar- He said this would be 150 to 200 good you are going to create these health in- geted the Senator from Louisiana per- manufacturing jobs here in the United surance exchanges and you are going to sonally. States. force millions of people into these ex- Now, we have all heard the saying The Presiding Officer and I both changes, then Congress should not op- ‘‘politics ain’t beanbag,’’ but the nas- come from States where there are a lot erate by better rules than the Amer- tiness with which the Democratic ma- of people who are struggling and who ican people. So he introduced a simple jority responded to Senator VITTER for would love to see 200 more manufac- amendment designed to treat Members daring to say that the Washington rul- turing jobs. Manufacturing used to be a of Congress just like the American peo- ing class should be subject to the same tremendous strength of our economy, ple so that we didn’t have this two- rules as the rest of America was ex- but the manufacturing sector has been class system. traordinary even for Washington, DC.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.035 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 In fact, I would note that the majority party and ask this question at any he will introduce an amendment to leader and the junior Senator from townhall gathering in our States: Do fully fund ObamaCare. That will re- California, as I understand from public you believe that Members of Congress quire just 51 votes. So every Repub- news reports, proposed a response to should be exempted from ObamaCare, lican will get to vote no and tell his or the Vitter amendment that said any that we should have a special rule, that her constituents they voted no. Yet Senator who votes for the Vitter we should disregard the language of the magically and wonderfully it will pass amendment—regardless of whether it statute and not be subject to because it will be a straight party-line, passes but simply if you cast a vote in ObamaCare the way the American peo- partisan vote, and other Senators will favor of it—he or she will lose their ple are, the answer would be over- be silenced. health insurance. whelmingly no. And it doesn’t matter I think Senator VITTER is absolutely I have to admit that when I first where in the country you are or what correct, we should vote on the Vitter heard of this proposed amendment, I your party is. amendment. Indeed, I would like to see shook my head in amazement. I had I thank Senator VITTER for having the Vitter amendment broadened. An- never heard of such a thing, and I sug- the courage and the principle to high- other member of our conference indi- gested to a friend who is a law pro- light this particularly unfortunate as- cated that if the Vitter amendment fessor that that would make a mar- pect of ObamaCare. were brought up, he would offer an velous law school final exam. Imagine Mr. VITTER. Will the Senator yield amendment to expand it to all Federal this amendment being passed into law for a further question? employees. I think that is a terrific and asking your law students to cata- Mr. CRUZ. I will be happy to yield rule. log all of the myriad ways in which for a question without yielding the Right now, Federal employees earn such a proposal would be unconstitu- floor. substantially more than the private tional. In fact, I made this point to the Mr. VITTER. Will the Senator also sector does. I don’t think there is any law professor I was talking to. I said: If acknowledge that given that history on entitlement to take our tax dollars and you as a private citizen came to any this issue, given that illegal rule to ex- to live in a privileged condition being a Member of the Senate and said: Sen- empt Congress, to have a special bail- Federal employee. If Members of this ator, if you vote the way I want you to, out, a special subsidy for Congress that body are going to go on television and I am going to pay you thousands of dol- the Obama administration is putting tell the American people: ObamaCare lars that you can deposit into your per- into law without valid authority, and is great, it is good, it is terrific, it is so sonal bank account, you, Mr. Law Pro- given that we are debating and acting great, then they should be eager to live fessor, Mr. Private Citizen, would on a spending bill this week, we should under it. promptly and quite rightly be pros- be voting on that? We should get a vote You can’t have it both ways. Either ecuted for bribery. It is a criminal of- on my amendment and the Cruz ObamaCare is a train wreck, in which fense. It is a felony. amendment together to block that ille- case we ought to listen to the Amer- If, on the other hand, you or any gal rule this week? ican people and fix it, or ObamaCare is other American citizen went to a U.S. The majority leader said he had no wonderful and terrific and fantastic Senator—went to Senator VITTER—and problem with a vote on that, in theory. and all of the great adjectives the pro- said: Senator VITTER, if you don’t vote He said that last week. He should allow ponents of the bill have used, in which the way I want, I am going to take a vote on this crucial amendment, case Members of Congress, staff, and thousands of dollars out of your per- which will be filed to the bill, which Federal employees should all eagerly sonal bank account, I am going to ex- will even be a germane amendment on embrace it. tract them forcibly from your personal this spending bill this week, before this I very much agree with Senator VIT- bank account, well, as I told the law illegal congressional exemption rule TER that it is critical we vote on the professor, then you would be guilty of goes into effect. Would the Senator Vitter amendment, and it is critical we extortion and would be charged and no agree with me? make clear to the American people doubt criminally convicted because Mr. CRUZ. I agree enthusiastically. there are not two sets of rules. There is under the black letter definition, that Senator VITTER highlights one of the not a ruling class in Washington that conduct—threatening to pay someone many reasons why every Republican in somehow gets treated differently. individually thousands of dollars or this body should vote against cloture Let me talk for a minute about con- take thousands of dollars away from on the bill on Friday or Saturday and gressional staffers. Behind closed doors them as a direct quid pro quo for how why I believe a great many Democrats this issue generates a lot of passion. a Member of Congress votes—con- should vote against cloture as well. There are a great many congressional stitutes either bribery or extortion. As we understand it, we are told the staff members who are dedicated public Now, let me be clear: No Member of amendment process on this bill is going servants, who have often taken sub- this body is guilty of bribery or extor- to be rigged. The amendment process stantial salary cuts to come to Wash- tion. Why? The simplest reason is be- on this bill is going to be that once de- ington to serve this country, who work cause the Constitution’s speech and de- bate is cut off, there will be a bill sim- brutal hours. Among congressional bate clause protects all of us, such that ply to fund ObamaCare in its entirety, staff, just like among Members, the given their action was proposing an to delete the House language, and that idea that they would be subject to amendment themselves, there is a con- other amendments will not be allowed. ObamaCare deeply concerns them. It stitutional immunity. So I am not sug- The amendment of the Senator from concerns them on the money side and gesting that anyone is guilty of bribery Louisiana will not be allowed, the it concerns them on the quality of care or extortion. But I am saying that if amendment repealing the medical de- and health insurance that they will be any private citizen who didn’t happen vice taxes will not be allowed, and the able to get on the exchanges. to be a Member of the Senate did the amendment getting the IRS out of the To make it real, I note there are mul- exact same thing as the suggested con- business of ObamaCare will not be al- tiple members of my staff who have tent of their amendment, he or she lowed. Instead, it will be a rigged play- had very serious, even life-threatening would have committed a felony under ing field. health issues for whom the limited the plain text of those definitions. The only way to prevent that rigged health insurance, the subpar, the poor So I want to commend Senator VIT- playing field is for Senators to stand quality health insurance that many TER for shining a light on basic fair- together and vote no on cutting off de- fear will be available on the exchanges ness, for enduring the vilification that bate on Friday or Saturday when we is not a passing concern, not an aca- was unfairly directed his way, and for have that vote. If we stand together demic concern, not a concern that let’s making the point that outside of Wash- and vote no, that forces this body to put in talking points, it is very real for ington is simple common sense. deal with the problem; otherwise, we a great many congressional staff, in- I would suggest that if any of us were know how the Kabuki dance ends. If cluding staff in my office. If the Vitter to get a gathering of our constituents cloture is invoked, if debate is cut off amendment passes and Congress is sub- together, if we were to get a gathering on the bill, very shortly thereafter the ject to the same rules as the American of constituents from the opposing majority leader has publicly announced people, there may well be quite a few

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.036 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6711 congressional staff who tender their insurance, boy, that gets people wor- ObamaCare as they have realized in letters of resignation and leave. ried. And it should. But it should worry practice the thing isn’t working. Re- I have had one staff member already us even more for all the people across cently the labor unions came to the indicate she would retire after many this country. Obama administration and said, We years of service, and the possibility of The majority leader and Members of want an exemption too. Big businesses being put on ObamaCare was a real fac- Congress can get a sitdown with the got an exemption, Members of Congress tor in that decision. President of the United States. But 26 got an exemption. Shouldn’t labor If we lose some good talent from Con- million Texans, most Texans can’t get unions, shouldn’t union bosses get an gress, that will be a shame and a hard- a sitdown with the President of the exemption? And with much fanfare the ship for every office. But what does United States. administration reportedly told them, that say? If ObamaCare is such a dis- If you are powerful, you can get a No. aster that congressional staffers—and, special exemption. We have seen the I am going to make a prediction mind you, a lot of these congressional President exempting every big corpora- right here and now. If the Congress staffers who may tender their letters of tion in America. Giant corporations, he does not act, if we don’t show leader- resignation are staffers working for said, for a year it doesn’t apply to you. ship in defunding ObamaCare, if we Democratic Senators who drafted The language of the law explicitly ap- don’t stand together in imposing clo- ObamaCare, who fight for ObamaCare plies. There is no year delay of the lan- ture on Friday, if we don’t act to avert every day. What does it say that staff- guage of the law. this train wreck for the American peo- ers would be willing to quit because the For over 200 years we have operated ple, before the end of this President’s quality of health care under as a nation of laws, not men. We have term we are going to see him grant an ObamaCare would be so poor that they operated as a nation that says if that is exemption for labor unions. That has would rather go somewhere else than what the law says, then it kicks in been the pattern. Friends, political be subject to those laws? I think that January 1 and not a year from now. buddies—they get a slap on the back. speaks volumes. What did the President say? No. Big They get special treatment. Neither Senator VITTER nor I in the companies have come to us. My friends long term has any interest in seeing in big business, I am going to give you It wouldn’t have been great politics congressional staff and Federal em- a year-long exemption. to grant the labor unions an exemption ployees on ObamaCare, but it does have If ObamaCare were so terrific, why right now, right in the middle of this the value of highlighting how bad it is. would the President be wanting to debate. Right when you have over 1.6 If this body is content to leave the delay it until after the next election? million people signing a national peti- American people stuck in ObamaCare, The year-delay timing is not entirely tion, right when Congress is debating then we ought to be subject to the coincidental. The employer mandate it—gosh, it would have looked bad to same rules. If we are not willing to live was supposed to kick in January 1 of grant an exemption then. under those rules, if we say, Wow, next year, and the President unilater- It is a little reminiscent of the Presi- ObamaCare scares the heck out of us ally and contrary to law delayed it one dent’s remarks regarding Mr. Putin and we don’t want to be subject to it, whole year until after the November that were caught on tape before the then the proper answer is not to vilify 2014 elections. last election—I forget the exact lan- the Senator from Louisiana or any If the representations that so many guage, but, Tell Vladimir I will be able other Senator in this body. The proper Members of this body make to the to work with him a lot more after the answer is to step in and say to the American people were true that election. American people—in fact, let me sug- ObamaCare is terrific, is wonderful, I don’t think it takes any stretch of gest something that would have a pow- then I would think the President would the imagination at all to understand erful clarifying impact on this body. be eager to have it kick in before the that, give it a little time, let the pesky If only Senators would behave as if election. If it were a good thing, you people who are sort of worked up a lit- their constituents were at least as im- would want the good stuff to happen tle bit on ObamaCare dissipate. Then portant as their congressional staff; if before the election and not after the we will quietly do the exemption for only Senators were to behave as if election. The fact that it was moved labor unions. their constituents were at least as im- for big businesses is an indication of Let me note the point ‘‘quietly.’’ One portant as they are—to be honest, our how badly this law has failed. of the self-described fact checkers—and But it is not just big businesses that constituents are more important. Our we may talk long enough that I talk a have got an exemption. Members of constituents are our bosses. They are little bit about fact checkers, because Congress. Senators can get a closed- the reason we are fighting. The fact that is a particularly pernicious bit of door meeting with the President of the that this body is so torn apart by the yellow journalism that has cropped up United States. With much fanfare, the notion that each of us would be subject that lets journalists be editorial writ- President came to the Capitol, met to ObamaCare and subject to the same ers and pretend they are talking about with the Democratic Caucus, and as rules the American people are high- objective facts, and basically conclude was widely reported they asked for a lights how broken Washington is. That as a factual matter—not as a matter of special exemption and they got it. How shouldn’t be controversial. That should opinion—and anyone who disagrees about the American people? They can’t be obvious. with them is objectively lying. Let me suggest to every Member of go in. Congress, to every staffer who is dis- One of the reasons people are so un- One point that one of the so-called mayed—and, to be honest, saying they happy with Washington is they get a fact checkers in the Washington Post are dismayed is an understatement, to sense that there are special rules that took issue with was an observation I describe the degree of deep concern and apply. Wall Street gets special exemp- made that President Obama is quietly even panic about this. Let me suggest tions, the big banks get special exemp- granting exceptions. to every Member of Congress and every tions. Dodd-Frank sets up rules that I note that the exception for big busi- staffer who is feeling that panic, direct hammer small banks, hammer commu- ness was announced in a blog posting that panic not to our own skins; direct nity banks, hammer the little guy. But by a midlevel political appointee in the that panic to the American people. Di- what happens to the big guys? They Treasury Department, if I remember rect that panic to the single mom keep getting bigger. Why? Because right, on a Friday. I may be wrong on working at the diner, working two 29- they get rules made in Washington the day but I think it was on a Friday. hour-a-week jobs who is facing the con- that favor the big guy over the little In Washington language, by any meas- sequences of ObamaCare. guy. And you wonder why there is such ure, when you announce a major policy Under ObamaCare, this President is dissatisfaction in this country. But if that impacts the whole country that getting ready to force millions of peo- you have political friends in this ad- exempts giant businesses from your ple onto exchanges where they are very ministration, you too can get an ex- rule that you are jamming on the likely to lose their health insurance. emption. American people and you don’t do it In the privileged corridors of Wash- Labor unions have more and more from the White House, you don’t do it ington, the risk of losing your health been expressing their dismay about from the President, you don’t do it as

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.038 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6712 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 an announcement, you don’t take ques- tween the ruling class in Washington jobs you can get. If you can’t speak tions on it, you simply put a blog post- and everyday Americans, but there are English, it is pretty hard to get a job ing from a midlevel staffer, that counts also two Americas right now between where you have to deal with customers as ‘‘quietly.’’ those of wealth and privilege and power who are going to expect you to speak It hasn’t been quiet since then be- and everybody else. If you are lucky English. At that point he didn’t have a cause everyone happened to notice. So enough to be a college graduate, your lot of skills. He was a teenager. So his my prediction right now is if we get unemployment rate is 3.5 percent. That first job was washing dishes. He made past this, if the forces in this body who is pretty good. The people who are get- 50 cents an hour. defend the status quo—and, wow, are ting hammered, who are losing under Why did he get that job? Because you there a lot of forces that defend the ObamaCare, are the most vulnerable didn’t have to speak English. Even status quo. There are a lot of people among us. They are young people, His- though he did not have a lot of skills as with a vested interest in maintaining panics, African Americans, single an 18-year-old kid, he was perfectly ca- the status quo. If they prevail, if moms. For Black teens the unemploy- pable of taking a dish, putting it under ObamaCare goes into effect before the ment rate is over 10 times higher than very hot water, scrubbing it and set- end of this President’s administration, it is for college graduates—38.2 percent. ting it aside and he did it over and mark my words, you will see an exemp- Let me ask, when small businesses over. tion for labor unions just like the ex- are not hiring, when small businesses When my father was here, he had no emption for big business, just like the are laying off people, when small busi- means of support other than washing exemption for Members of Congress. nesses are forcing employees to work 29 dishes. So what he did, one of the rea- What are we left with then? We are hours a week, whom do you think that sons he wanted to work in a res- left with a system where ObamaCare is is impacting? It doesn’t impact titans taurant, is that restaurants would let a rule for, as Leona Helmsley so fa- of industry. The rich and powerful are you eat while you were working. It was mously described them, the little peo- not losing their jobs. They are not find- one of the perks of working in a res- ple. For everybody who doesn’t have ing themselves forced into part-time taurant; the employees were able to power and juice and connections in work. eat. My father had no money for food. Washington, for everyone—look for the We talked about the fast food busi- He barely had money to pay for a tiny men and women at home, maybe you ness. The fast food business, that in- little apartment. In fact, he started in have an army of lobbyists working for dustry is being hammered. You want to the dorms, I believe, and tuition. That you. Maybe you have Senators’ cell talk about what a tremendous avenue was it. He didn’t have money to buy phones on your speed dial. Maybe you for employment the fast food industry food, so what my dad did is he ate at can walk the corridors of power. In has been, particularly for the first and work. Since he liked to eat 7 days a that case you too get an exemption. second job someone has. When we look week, he worked 7 days a week. He But if you are just a hard-working at the unemployment rate of African- would go in and he only ate during American, if you are just trying to pro- American teens of 38.2 percent, the fast those 8 hours. During the 8 hours he vide for your family, if you are just food industry has been such a great av- was working washing dishes, he would trying to do an honest day’s work, enue for advancement for minority eat like crazy, I mean he would just make your community better, raise teenagers. feed his face. Because when he left, the your kids, set a good example, then the I note I do not view that from the next 16 hours he wasn’t eating any- message this President has sent—and perspective of abstract numbers on a thing, wasn’t buying food until the sadly the message the Senate has piece of paper. I view that from a very next 16 hours he showed up at work. sent—is you don’t count. We are going personal perspective, because 55 years That was the next time he was going to to treat everybody else better than ago, when my father came from Cuba, eat. you. he was 18, he was penniless, and he Some people may look at a dish- That is exactly backward. It is the couldn’t speak English. But he was washing job paying 50 cents an hour hard-working American we work for, lucky. He was lucky to get to America. and turn up their nose at it and say: not the lobbyists with tassels on their He was lucky to be able to apply for a Who really cares about people in jobs loafers who wander the halls but the student visa, to be accepted to the Uni- like that? Sometimes this Senate be- single mom in a diner. They are the versity of Texas, to flee the Batista re- haves like that. Who cares about peo- people who are losing. gime, where he had been imprisoned ple in jobs like that? I wish to talk about the harm to jobs and tortured as a kid. By the time he But after some time my father and economic growth that is coming was a teenager, my father had endured learned English. I will tell you how he from ObamaCare. Americans continue more than the vast majority of Mem- learned English. He did a couple of to suffer from high unemployment and bers of Congress will ever experience. things. No. 1, my father signed up for severe underemployment. Instead of I will note with that background it Spanish 101. When he was a freshman helping job growth, ObamaCare’s man- does make the back-and-forth of Wash- at UT, he signed up for Spanish 101. dates and costs are causing businesses ington pretty mild by comparison. If You might say: Why would a native to stop hiring workers, to cut employ- someone says something mean about speaker take Spanish 101? That seems a ees’ hours, and they are increasing the you in the newspaper, it may not be al- little dumb. costs to operate businesses. Small busi- together pleasant, but it is pretty What my father would do is sit in the nesses in particular are being ham- darned mild compared to being beaten classroom and basically try to reverse mered by ObamaCare. and almost killed in a Cuban jail as my engineer everything. So the professor Here are some recent statistics on dad was 55 years ago. would say milk is leche, and he would unemployment and underemployment. When he landed in Austin—if I could, write it down and say leche is milk. He According to the Bureau of Labor Sta- Mr. President, I would ask you to put would try to sit and listen, and as the tistics report for August of 2013, there yourself in his shoes—not literally, be- teacher was teaching Spanish he would are 11.3 million unemployed persons. cause I think your feet are bigger than try to do everything backward and try The unemployment rate, the official his, but figuratively. When my dad to figure out what the English was. unemployment rate is listed at 7.3 per- landed in Austin, he couldn’t speak The other thing my dad would do, on cent. Yet college graduates over 25 face English. He didn’t know anybody. Saturdays, he would go to movies. In just a 3.5-percent unemployment. Imagine being in a strange land where fact, when I was a kid, we would go to Former Democratic Vice-Presi- you cannot speak English, you have movies all the time together. It was dential nominee John Edwards used to $100 sewn into your underwear that my one of the things we loved to do to- talk about two Americas. I didn’t agree grandmother put there. The first thing gether, still do. My dad used to go to with a lot of things John Edwards said he needed was a job, so he went to look movies on Saturday and he would sit as a political candidate, but I actually for a job. there and watch the same movie in agreed with that notion, and it is a The problem is if you are an 18-year- English typically three times. He tragic notion, that there are two Amer- old kid from Cuba and you cannot would just sit there and watch it. When icas. There are two Americas, A, be- speak English, there are not a lot of he first came there to Austin, he would

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.039 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6713 watch a movie three times and have no He had all sorts of clever final exam as how to show up on time. A lot of idea of what was going on the first, sec- questions that he would give. He teenagers are not very good at showing ond or third time. But then he would taught college algebra. I remember one up on time. They don’t understand how do it again and do it again. of his final exam questions was: You to show up on time. Even some U.S. The human brain is a miraculous have a triangle with sides 11, 20, and 9. Senators have not figured that out. thing. As he would watch the movie Compute the area. Yet, if a young American doesn’t get a two or three times, by the second time You get students who would write job or learn to work with his cowork- you start picking up context, start pages and pages, trying to put all these ers, customers, their boss, how to show picking up what was going on and start various equations together, trying to up on time, to be courteous, respectful, following the plot. By the third time he figure out the area. Almost all of them diligent, and responsible, he or she would start following it even more. So were wrong. It is a basic rule of geom- can’t learn the skills it takes to relatively quickly my father learned etry, for a triangle the sum of any two achieve in any job. English. sides has to be longer than the third Some time ago I tweeted a speech I note he had a pretty exquisite in- side or else they don’t actually meet. A Ashton Kutcher gave. It was actually a centive to learn English. His incentive triangle with sides of 20, 11, and 9—11 terrific speech. It was a speech at one to learn English was if he didn’t, he and 9 add up to 20. That is a straight of those award shows where he talked was going to flunk out of school be- line. The area is zero. So he enjoyed about the value of hard work. One of cause he was taking his classes in kind of coming up with clever final the things I remember he said was this: English. He took mostly math classes exam questions. That was one of them. In my life, opportunity looks an awful and math was the sort of thing you did But from there, after being a teach- lot like hard work. That was a great not need as much language as you do in ing assistant, he applied for and got a message. It was a great message to other topics. But if he didn’t learn job with IBM as a computer pro- young people. Part of the reason I English pretty fast, he was going to grammer. This was, I think, 1962, 1963. tweeted it out and to salute him—I flunk out of the University of Texas. It was in the early 1960s. From there he have watched his TV shows and his Once he learned English, he managed, got the skills as a computer pro- movies, but I don’t know him person- at the restaurant he was working at, to grammer. He worked in the oil and gas get a promotion. He got a promotion to ally—was because he can speak to mil- industry. Subsequently, with my moth- be a cook. Being a cook, that was good. lions of young people who would never er, he went on to start a small busi- Look, being a cook was a lot better listen to me. I salute him for carrying ness, a seismic data processing com- than being a dishwasher. It paid a little a message about hard work, diligence, pany in the oil and gas business. bit more. I don’t know how much he and working toward the American So when I was a kid, as I grew up, my got paid being a cook, but it paid bet- dream. parents were small business owners. The greatest travesty of what is hap- ter than 50 cents an hour. He had to When I talk about small businesses, speak enough English, so when some- pening with ObamaCare is a generation similar to a great many Americans, the one came in and ordered, let me get a of young people are being denied a fair majority of Americans, it is not a hy- steak and potatoes, he had to know chance at the American dream. If we pothetical. I have grown up as the son what that was and not give them look at economic growth, according to of two small business owners, seeing scrambled eggs. So he learned enough the Bureau of Economic Affairs, GDP the hard work, the challenges of trying to be a cook and respond to the orders. growth over the last four quarters has The place he cooked was a place to run a small business. In fact, I saw been an abysmal 1.6 percent. The his- called the Toddle House. It was a place my parents’ business go bankrupt when toric average since World War II is 3.3 where the cooks were in front of the I was in high school. I saw the up sides percent. Our economy is stagnant, and people. It doesn’t exist anymore, but and the down sides of being in a small ObamaCare is a big part of the reason. my father described it as a sort of business. It ain’t easy. So I ask the Presiding Officer, where Denny’s. Imagine Denny’s combined If my father had not been able to get is the urgency in this body? When the with Benihana. The menu was similar that first job washing dishes and mak- Presiding Officer goes home and talks to Denny’s, but the cook was in front ing 50 cents an hour, he never would to the men and women in West Vir- of you so you could see him. So my dad have gotten his second job as a cook. If ginia—or the men and women in learned to flip pancakes. Let me tell he hadn’t gotten his second job, he Texas—he must hear that they are you, as a kid on Saturday or Sunday wouldn’t have gotten his third job as a hurting. They understand that 1.6 per- morning and your dad is making pan- teaching assistant. If he hadn’t have cent economic growth is unacceptable cakes, it is very cool when he can flip gotten that job, he wouldn’t have been and it is hurting the American people. them—you could make him flip them hired by IBM. If he hadn’t been hired Where is the urgency in this body? high in the air and catch them. But he by IBM, he wouldn’t have started his Where is the urgency to say: We have could do that. own business. to stand and do something to turn it I will credit my father; he invented— Earlier, the Senator from Utah around. this wasn’t for the restaurant, but he talked about opportunity and the Jobs are being lost because of did it anyway—he invented green eggs American dream. When we look at a ObamaCare. A U.S. Chamber of Com- and ham. He did it two ways. No. 1, the statistic, such as the fact that African- merce survey of small businesses in easy way, is he put green food coloring American teenage unemployment is 2013 found that 71 percent of small in the eggs, chopped up ham in it. 38.2 percent, we are talking about a businesses say ObamaCare makes it ‘‘Green Eggs and Ham’’ was my favor- generation of young people who are not harder to hire workers. The study also ite book when I was a boy. The food getting that first job. They are not get- found that two-thirds of small busi- coloring is a little bit cheating, but if ting the equivalent today of that job of nesses are not ready to comply with you take some spinach and mix it into washing dishes and making 50 cents an ObamaCare rules. the eggs, the eggs turn green. hour. They are not getting the job of Why do we care about small busi- My dad worked as a cook to finish his flipping burgers in the fast food busi- nesses? Look, on one level, we care way through the University of Texas. ness because the impact of ObamaCare about the entrepreneurs—the Horatio In 1961, my dad graduated, got a math on the fast food business is so dev- Algers and the people working toward degree. At his next job, he was hired as astating that it is not hiring workers. the American dream—but even more a teaching assistant. He began taking The travesty is that they do not get to fundamentally, small businesses graduate classes in mathematics at the flip burgers. Flipping burgers is honor- produce two-thirds of the new jobs in University of Texas and he got hired as able work. It is not necessarily the ful- this country. If small businesses are a teaching assistant teaching fillment of someone’s life’s ambition, suffering, jobs are suffering and Amer- undergrads math. A teaching assistant but it is so frequently a stepping stone ica suffers. was a better job than washing dishes or to the next job and the next job and ObamaCare is an absolute disaster being a cook. It paid more and it had the next job. for small businesses. Forty-one percent more forward advancement. So he en- As a young kid, one of the things you of small business owners have held off joyed being a teaching assistant. have to learn is basic work skills, such on plans to hire new employees, and 38

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.041 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6714 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 percent say they are holding off on It was interesting. There were peo- The outlook for hiring remains grim. plans to grow their businesses in direct ple—and some of the franchise owners The majority—61 percent—of small response to the law. had pretty extensive backgrounds. I businesses do not have plans to hire By the way, the most egregious parts think there was one fellow who had 27 next year. of ObamaCare still have not kicked in. fast food restaurants. So there were A Grand Rapids, MI, company re- Forty-eight percent of small business some people who were very successful ported that they had to lay off over owners say ObamaCare is bad for busi- businesspeople. 1,000 people due to the ObamaCare med- ness. Less than 10 percent say it is good I remember this African-American ical device tax. Let’s think about that. for business. gentleman who had relatively recently In Grand Rapids, MI, there are 1,000 Jamie Richardson of White Castle ex- saved up to buy his first restaurant people out of a job directly because of plained how ObamaCare is impacting that he owned and the pride he justifi- ObamaCare. Now let’s think of their her business: In the 5 years prior to the ably felt—and the pride I felt. I mean, spouses and their kids. One of the health care law, we were opening an what an incredible country. What was major breadwinners in their family lost average of eight new White Castle res- interesting is that he described the his or her job because of ObamaCare. taurants each year. In 2013 we plan to exact same challenges as the fellow On September 18, 2013, the world-re- just open two new locations. While who owned 27 restaurants and was far nowned Cleveland Clinic announced other factors have slowed our growth, wealthier and had a far bigger business. that it would cut jobs and slash 5 to 6 it is the mounting uncertainty sur- What all of them said as we were percent of its $6 billion annual budget rounding the health care law that going around the table was that to prepare for ObamaCare. This is not brought us to a standstill. ObamaCare is devastating. They didn’t just impacting fast food restaurants, I want the Presiding Officer to think say it was sort of a little problem. this is impacting everyone. The Cleve- about that for a second. They were They didn’t say it was making life land Clinic has a $6 billion annual opening eight White Castle restaurants more difficult. They said: It is dev- budget, and yet they are forced to fire a year—I like their little burgers—and astating. It is going to put us out of employees. The Cleveland Clinic is that dropped to two. So six a year over business. We don’t know what to do. Cleveland’s largest employer. the last 4 years amounts to 24 White This is a disaster for our business. Every 4 years during the Presidential Castle restaurants. No. 1, just as a con- A March 2013 Federal Reserve report election, both parties purport to care sumer—and I am a big fan of eating on current Federal economic condi- passionately about what happens in the White Castle burgers—that is 24 places tions explains that employers in sev- great State of Ohio. Both parties focus we can’t go to get a White Castle burg- eral Federal Reserve districts cited the and descend on Ohio—and a handful of er. But that is not the real hardship. effects of the ObamaCare act as reasons other swing States—as the center of The real hardship is all the jobs that for planned layoffs and reluctance to the universe. Yet, as we sit here now in are lost from those 24 restaurants that hire more staff. 2013—not a Presidential election— didn’t open. Every one of those stores In May 2013 Moody’s economist Mark somehow the concern about what is would have multiple shifts with man- Zandi noted a slowdown in small busi- happening to the Cleveland Clinic in agers, cashiers, or kids just mopping ness hiring due to ObamaCare. Ohio has diminished. The Cleveland the floor. All those jobs would have The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in Clinic is Cleveland’s largest employer, been on the economic ladder toward the second quarter of 2013 small busi- and it is the second largest employer in the American dream. ness survey, found that Washington the State of Ohio after Walmart. I would suggest that if all of the Even within a fast food restaurant policies continue to hamper hiring and folks from this body and the political there has been tremendous opportunity growth, with over a quarter of small parties who descend on Ohio every 4 for investment. Maybe you get hired businesses saying they had lost em- years are genuinely concerned about mopping a floor because you don’t have ployees in the last year. They cited what is occurring in Ohio in a non- any other skills or, like my dad, wash- health care as the very top concern. Presidential year we should see the ing dishes because you don’t have any Concern about ObamaCare has in- floor of this Senate filled with Sen- other skills. If you work a little while, creased by 10 points since June of 2011 ators concerned about the impact maybe you can move over to the fries and by 4 points just last quarter. Sev- ObamaCare is having directly on Cleve- and then to the griddle. You can move enty-one percent of small businesses land and the State of Ohio. to the cashier desk and learn how to say the health care law makes it hard- Cleveland Clinic is responsible for 80 count change. A lot of kids don’t know er to hire. Only 30 percent say they are percent of the economic output of how to count change. Sadly, because of prepared for the requirements of the northeast Ohio, according to a 2009 the educational challenges we have, a law—including participation in the study. It is the largest provider in Ohio lot of kids don’t have the skill to count marketplaces. of Medicaid health coverage for the change yet. They can learn that. Then, Among small businesses that will be poor, the program that will expand to if you demonstrate hard work, perse- impacted by the employer mandate, cover uninsured Americans under verance, and customer service, maybe one-half of small businesses say they ObamaCare. you will get promoted to assistant will either cut hours to reduce full- The Cleveland Clinic has close to 100 manager, then manager, and then who time employees or replace full-time locations around the State. They em- knows. employees with part-time workers to ploy 3,000 doctors. Its main campus is Just a few weeks ago I had dinner avoid the mandate. Twenty-four per- recognized worldwide for its cancer and with a number of franchisees who own cent say they will reduce hiring to stay cardiovascular treatments. fast food restaurants for one particular under 50 employees. (Ms. WARREN assumed the Chair.) very well-known hamburger chain. I I want to repeat those numbers be- Madam President, some Members of listened to their stories. I start most cause those numbers are deeply trou- this body might say: Well, these are meetings, if they are small enough that bling. Among small businesses that hard times. Everyone is struggling, so this is feasible—like the Kerrville will be impacted by the employer man- maybe the Cleveland Clinic is respond- small business gathering—by asking date, one-half—50 percent—say they ing to economic challenges. Who is to them to go around and share an issue will either cut hours to reduce full- say what the Cleveland Clinic is doing that is of a concern to them. I remem- time employees or replace full-time has anything to do with ObamaCare? ber one gentleman, an African-Amer- employees with part-time workers to Well, the answer to that is, who is to ican gentleman, who described exactly avoid the mandate. We are not talking say? The Cleveland Clinic is to say. A that path. He described how he got about a few small businesses, we are spokeswoman for the Cleveland Clinic hired in an entry-level position at a talking about half of them. Twenty- said: fast food restaurant, developed skills, four percent say they will reduce hir- To prepare for health care reform, Cleve- advanced, and then he was hired as an ing to stay under 50 employees. That is land Clinic is transforming the way care is assistant manager and then as a man- a disaster for small business, it is a dis- delivered to patients. ager. After that, he saved up and aster for jobs, and it is a disaster for She added that $330 million would be bought his own restaurant. American families who are struggling. cut from the clinic’s annual budget.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.042 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6715 You want to talk about direct job from the American people. So let me ing but my client will realize a smaller eq- losses from ObamaCare, go to Cleve- read some letters from American peo- uity harvest. This is a disaster, and it affects land, OH, go to those working at the ple who do not have the opportunity to everyone. As you can see by this scenario, many are Cleveland Clinic, go to those depending come to the Senate floor. I hope in a affected by this bill. Also, a class A on the Cleveland Clinic for health care, very small way to provide a voice for franchisee with a national restaurant chain and that is one very real manifestation them. whom I represent is experiencing the pain of the train wreck that is ObamaCare. A small business from Alice, TX, from this bill. They are being forced to sell According to the Star-Ledger, in a wrote, on August 9, 2013: off to a larger franchisee because they can- story printed on September 12, 2013, We, the undersigned employees . . . are not afford to comply with the requirements. Barnabas Health, which employs over growing increasingly concerned with the ap- I wish the American people understood how 19,000 people, is laying off employees. parent disregard for small businesses and the severely the economy will be impacted. Thank you for fighting the good fight. We Why? Well, according to Barnabas middle class that is on display by the United are behind you. Health, the reason is ObamaCare. Ac- States government. We are trying to figure cording to a spokeswoman for Bar- out how we are going to cope with the 14% Let me read again two sentences nabas Health: increase in health insurance premiums we from that letter from a commercial are facing, despite the fact that we have a Healthcare reform, in combination with real estate broker in Chesapeake City, Medicare cuts, more patients seeking out- lower average employee age and loss ratio VA: ‘‘Most of the tenants work in fast patient care and decreasing patient vol- than we have had at any point in our 21-year food, janitorial, and low paying service umes—as a result, we have made the difficult history. The increase is because of insurance related jobs. A great deal of them had decision to reduce our workforce. Decisions companies preparing for new taxes and un- their hours cut to 29.5 hours per week reasonable requirements within ObamaCare. like this are never easy and we are working and cannot pay the rent.’’ with these employees to help them look for On top of struggling to find the means to cover our own group of employees, our gov- So they are losing their housing. I other opportunities within the Barnabas want you to think for a second about Health system. ernment now makes it clear that part of the massive amount of taxes we pay a year will the spiral that comes from this. If you This is not us putting words in their be used to cover 75% of health insurance have someone who is working as a jan- mouth. This is people on the ground in costs for Members of Congress AND their itor, if you have someone who is work- the States dealing with the very real staffers. As waivers are granted daily, shield- ing flipping burgers, if you have some- struggles and the disaster that is ing . . . big business, unions, government one washing dishes, as my dad did, and ObamaCare. agencies, and various other Affordable Care they have their hours forcibly reduced The problem we face in Washington Act supporters, it is clear the burden will to 29 hours a week, as so many people is that our elected officials are not lis- rest firmly on middle class small businesses across this country are having happen tening to us. We need to make DC lis- like us. . . . because of ObamaCare, they cannot ten. We need to make elected officials We strongly encourage our elected officials provide for their family on that, so in both parties listen to the very real to place a higher importance on public serv- hardship that is coming from ice than self-service. they cannot pay the rent, as these peo- ObamaCare. Let me read that sentence again: ple cannot. But not being able to pay I would like to share a number of real ‘‘We strongly encourage our elected of- the rent means some of them may constituent letters concerning ficials to place a higher importance on move to government housing. And ObamaCare. So this is not me speak- public service than self service.’’ what is the answer? Look, they are los- ing. As I said at the outset, the reason We are hurting badly because of this, as ing their hours because of ObamaCare. Congress is held in such disrepute, so are many disillusioned businesses with whom The answer is not: Well, let’s give them little approval, is because for many we communicate in our industry. Headlines a rent subsidy. Let’s tax people even years now elected officials in both par- nationwide report hiring freezes and layoffs more. First let’s pass rules and laws ties have refused to listen to the peo- due to increased costs on businesses large and regulations that prevent people ple, and there is a sense of despair that and small. The weight is too heavy at the from getting decent jobs. Then let’s no matter what the American people worst time, and in result the economy will jack up the taxes even more so we can soon break. We urge Congress to defund or say, our elected officials will not listen pay them to subsidize their rent and repeal the Affordable Care Act with no fur- subsidize their housing because they because they are more interested in ther delay. . . . themselves, they are more interested cannot afford to pay their rent, they That is not me speaking. That is in getting an exemption for Members of cannot afford to pay their housing be- from a small business in Alice, TX. I Congress from ObamaCare than they cause of a law we passed that forcibly would note, that is not even the CEO are on fixing the problem for the Amer- reduced their hours. That is the path to speaking. That is a letter signed by the ican people. And that level of disillu- destruction in this country. sion is not irrational. It is based on a employees of that small business be- Far better that we get back to our very real problem. Yet I am inspired cause they are hurting. founding principles, far better that we that if and when the American people But let me note, it is not limited to get back to what has made America stand and make their voices heard, our the State of Texas. I guarantee you, great, which is our free enterprise sys- politicians will have no choice but to there are people hurting in every one of tem—a robust, free enterprise system listen. the 50 States, every one of the States that encourages small businesses to I remember early on—Madam Presi- we represent. A commercial real estate grow and to prosper, that encourages dent, you and I are relatively new in broker from Chesapeake City, VA, people working a job as a janitor to this body. We have been here 9 months. wrote, on September 20, 2013: work hard and get a promotion and I remember early on standing at this I also wanted to share with you how climb that ladder, to pay their own very desk along with my friend Sen- ObamaCare is affecting my business. I am a rent, to pay for their own food for their ator RAND PAUL in his historic 13-hour commercial real estate broker in Virginia kids, to work and to advance. filibuster on drones. I remember when and am already feeling the effects of this dis- These cries are coming from all astrous bill. I am currently in the process of Senator PAUL began that filibuster, across the country. Yet Washington is analyzing an apartment portfolio for sale for not listening. We need to make DC lis- many Members of this body viewed a client and recently the occupancy has what he was doing as curious, if not dropped dramatically in this class C low-in- ten. quixotic, as a strange issue that most come community. The community is not A small business owner from Port Members of this body, frankly, were subsidized as these tenants are paying out of Clinton, OH, wrote, on September 19, not concerned about. We saw some- pocket for the rent. Most of the tenants 2013: thing incredible happen during that work in fast food, janitorial, and low paying I strongly urge you to stand up for the time, which is the American people got service related jobs. A great deal of them has middle class and small business and vote to engaged, got involved, began speaking had their hours cut to 29.5 hours per week DEFUND ObamaCare. As a small business and cannot pay the rent. Our occupancy has owner, we have always offered health insur- out, and it transformed the debate. As dropped as well as the income. Our manage- ance. After meeting with our health insur- a result of the American people’s in- ment company has reached into the City of ance representative, we learned that the low- volvement, it transformed the debate. Richmond for rent assistance for these ten- est coverage level of ObamaCare offered is If you want Washington to listen, the ants but to no avail. Not only are these peo- estimated to be about $400 a person, twice only way that will happen is if it comes ple going to be forced into government hous- what we pay now for excellent coverage. . . .

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.044 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6716 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 With big business and government being We all remember President Obama I got a letter in May of this year informing exempted from this policy, again the SMALL told the American people: If you like me that I was going to lose that medical cov- BUSINESS OWNER and individual are left your health insurance plan, you can erage come 2014. Since we are both on a fixed with all the costs for everyone else. This income, it will be impossible for us to main- could well end up closing our business and keep it. Even in these cynical days of tain our mortgage and to start paying for all then there will be 15 more individuals col- politics, promises should mean some- of our health costs. Repeal ObamaCare. lecting from the government. thing. For this woman and her hus- These are voices from the people. A constituent from Nacogdoches, TX, band, that promise is a hollow failure. This is a disabled man, a senior couple wrote, on May 29, 2013: She is losing her health insurance be- who is suffering, who is losing their I need a little help here! Can you explain cause of ObamaCare. That is not me health insurance because of something to me? My health insurance pre- saying that, not some politician saying ObamaCare. Every one of us has an ob- miums for my wife, three children and my- that. That is from her own words. ligation to listen to people. self were $850 or so back in 2010. After The rules of the Senate will not allow Look, I understand in Washington, in ObamaCare was passed my premiums are her or any other small business owner a football game we all cheer for our re- now $1400 or so. This January, when to walk onto the Senate floor and ObamaCare is implemented it is estimated spective team. I cheer when the Hous- speak out, to say: Why am I losing my ton Texans win a game. I am not gen- by Blue Cross Blue Shield I could see a 25% health insurance? Why am I strug- increase in premiums. That will be almost erally thrilled, having grown up in $1,800 a month for premiums plus on my HSA gling? Why is my business going under? Houston in the 1970s, when the Pitts- plan my deductible is $10,000. If my calcu- So I am doing my very best to in some burgh Steelers win a game, because I lator is correct, that is $21,600 per year out of small way help provide a voice for remember as a kid year after year see- my pocket before the insurance company those people who are struggling, those ing the Steelers sadly trounce the Oil- pays a penny. people who are hurting. ers and the great Earl Campbell when I also own a small business and have four But if this body were operating the others on our group plan. If this cost in- the Steelers had one of the greatest way it should, there should be 100 football teams ever to play the game. I crease is across the board with the others as voices; 100 of us, Democrats and Repub- well, my business will stop the benefit of in- understand that. It is a good thing to surance and each will be on their own to get licans, should be standing side by side cheer for your team. coverage. I understood this health care over- reading letter after letter like this. In politics sometimes we cheer for haul would be a benefit. From where I am You know what. These are our bosses. our team too. So I understand the sitting it is only a burden. If you can, please These are the people we work for. They great many Democrats who take the repeal this before it gets worse. are struggling. view: Well, a Democratic President We are hearing these voices from These letters I am reading are not signed the law, Democrats passed the Americans all over the country, both ideological letters. They are not com- law on a straight party vote so we have Republicans and Democrats in this ing from a partisan perspective. They got to cheer for our team. You know, I body. All we need to do is listen to the are people who are seeing on the will note that more than a few Demo- people. A veterinarian from Mont- ground this law is not working. cratic Members of this body privately, gomery, TX, wrote on February 20, Yet DC does not listen to them. The when they are behind closed doors, are 2013: Democrats in this body tell America: worried about what is happening to I would like to bring to your attention a ObamaCare is great. ObamaCare is ter- ObamaCare. They are seeing the prob- troubling development. I am a veterinarian, rific. I am sorry you lost your health lems. But yet publicly they are still and in the past had to use a group health care, but ObamaCare is terrific. The cheering for their team. care policy offered by the American Veteri- Republicans in this body, sadly more This is not a team sport. This is life nary Medical Association. I am currently than a few of them, say: We will take under my husband’s insurance. However, a and death. There is a fundamental di- lots and lots of symbolic votes against vide between the people and Wash- number of my colleagues use one of the var- ObamaCare, but there is nothing we ious plans AVMA offers. The AVMA insur- ington. We need to make DC listen, lis- ance is being canceled at the end of the year. can do. If every Republican Senator ten to the people. This decision is due directly to ObamaCare. stands together and votes no on cloture Mr. PAUL. Would the Senator yield Here is the text of that notification. Group this Friday or Saturday, there is some- for a question? Health and Life Insurance Trust Programs thing we can do. We can stand and say: Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a and New York Life attributes the program’s We are listening to the American peo- question without yielding the floor. demise to regulatory requirements put in ple. This law is not working and people Mr. PAUL. You know, Senators do place as a result of the Patient Protection are suffering. not always ask for advice from other and Affordable Care Act signed by President They are not interested in political Senators. I thought I would come down Obama in 2010. Company officials told trustees that the games. They are not interested in show and make sure the Senator had com- challenges of complying with provisions of votes. They are not interested in the fortable shoes on, make sure he is get- the law that take effect in 2014 are the pri- fact that if the majority leader suc- ting enough to eat—try not to eat on mary reason New York Life opted to quit the ceeds in cutting off debate on this bill television. That is a little free advice association health insurance market en- and there is a 51-vote threshold on an that sometimes shows up. tirely. New York Life has underwritten the amendment to fund ObamaCare, at But my question relates to American Veterinarian Medical Association that point every Republican will hap- ObamaCare. I think the Senator has Trust medical coverage for the past 20 years. A number of veterinarians are contract pily vote no. That may be solicited done a good job of bringing attention labor, called relief veterinarians. These vets from the personal political perspec- to something I think is going to be a contract out on a daily or weekly basis to tives of the Republicans in this body, real tragedy for the country. As we get fill in for doctors at various clinics when but it does not benefit the American involved with this, there is so much someone takes a vacation or during seasonal people one iota. It does not benefit the talk about tactics and this or that, business increases. Many of those vets do not American people. It does not stop whether now is the right time, when is have access to health care in any other way. ObamaCare. It does not fix the prob- the right time to do this, but I think This is a travesty. Perfectly good plans are lem. That is what we should be doing. the question is, do we need to talk being discontinued due to a perfectly awful law. This health care law is directly contrib- A constituent from Euless, TX, wrote about something that is going to affect uting to people losing their health care. on July 3, 2013: 16 percent of our economy, one-sixth of My husband and I made long-term plans to I have been disabled since 1997 and on a our economy? Do we need to bring up potentially retire early and use an AVMA fixed income. My wife lost her job of 16 years an issue? Do we need to draw attention plan until eligible for Medicare. We also had in 2008 and was not able to find a good job so and try to stop something that could the safety net of the AVMA insurance if she was forced to take her Social Security be damaging to the people precisely it something happened with this job. For me, last year at age 62. She is 41-year type I dia- is intended to help? AVMA’s decision is currently an inconven- betic and her medical costs are expensive. I think it is personally not a good ience. However, it removes an option for me Luckily, I was paying for medical and long- in the future. My colleagues on the other term disability insurance when I was work- idea to shut down government. I think hand will likely be forced into inferior ing, which allowed me to continue the med- it is also, though, not a good idea to health care or pay penalties through no fault ical insurance with a company even after I fund ObamaCare. Can they both go to- of their own. became disabled. gether? Can you do one without the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.045 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6717 other? Some, like the President, have point of getting to compromise, the them every day since. I don’t believe said: Oh, Republicans, they just want only way we get there is by standing there has been a day on this Senate 100 percent of what they want or they and saying we believe in this. floor that I haven’t worn my argument are going to shut down government. It isn’t about us demanding 100 per- boots. Well, can you say something so pat- cent of what we want. But right now, if I had a choice with which I was con- ently false and get away with it, is my you look at this objectively, the Presi- fronted, which was do I follow through question. The President wants 100 per- dent is getting 100 percent of what he and wear my argument boots or do I cent of what he wants. He wants wants—ObamaCare passed only by listen to the very sage counsel from my ObamaCare as he passed it with only Democrats, not one Republican vote. friend from Kentucky and go with Democrats. He wants it never to be Really, how do we get to what the more comfortable shoes. I will embar- changed. He wants no compromise. He American people want, which is dialog rassingly admit that I took the cow- wants what he wants or he is willing to and compromise? We have to look at a ard’s way out. I went and purchased shut down the government. That is deadline. We have a deadline. some black tennis shoes. Actually, I what this debate is about. My question to the Senator from think they are the same model the sen- ObamaCare was passed with only Texas is whether he wants to shut ior Senator from Utah ORRIN HATCH Democrats, no Republican input, no down the government. Is that his in- wears on a regular basis. I am not in Republican votes. When people are say- tention or is it the President’s inten- my argument boots, and I will confess ing there are problems, his own people tion to shut down the government or is I do feel pretty embarrassed by that. I are saying there are problems. The it that perhaps when deadlines come am pretty sure, since we are on the Teamsters have said there is a prob- forward, that is a good time for dialog Senate floor and C–SPAN is covering lem. Authors of the bill are saying it is because no one ever seems to talk at it, that this may not be covered by the a train wreck. The former President any other time? priest-penitent privilege, but I do feel came out this week and said: It is I would ask the Senator from Texas, it is a question of sorts. going to hurt the people it was in- what are his intentions? Does he want The question Senator RAND PAUL tended to help. to shut down the government or would asked was an excellent question. His So we have got all of these people he like to find something to make question was whether I or anyone here saying: For goodness sakes, slow this ObamaCare less bad? I know we would wishes to shut down the government. train down. Stop this train. Stop this both like to repeal it, but would the The answer is absolutely not. We train wreck of ObamaCare. All every- Senator accept anything in between? should not shut down the government. body cries about is: Oh, somebody Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from We should fund every bit of the govern- wants to shut down the government. Kentucky for his very fine question. ment, every aspect of the government, The President does not want to com- Let me say at the outset before I re- 100 percent of the government except promise. spond directly to the question that I for ObamaCare. That is what the House What we are talking about is, we do remember not too many months ago of Representatives did. The House of not want to spend money on something standing on this same Senate floor in Representatives—232 Members of the that is not going to work and hurt the the midst of the Senator’s historic fili- House, including 2 Democrats—voted people—precisely the people it was in- buster. I will say it was one of the to fund every bit of the Federal Gov- tended to help. But the thing is, how do proudest moments of my life. Indeed, ernment, 100 percent of it, except for we fix it? What do we do? Can we scrap during that filibuster on drones, that ObamaCare. the whole thing? Well, the Democrats was the first time I had ever spoken on I would note that last night on the control one body, we control the other the Senate floor. floor of the Senate, I asked the major- body, they control the Presidency. I have observed multiple times that I ity leader to consent to passing the Historically what would happen, and will go to my grave in debt to RAND continuing resolution the House what I think the American people PAUL, to have the opportunity for the passed, passing it into law. Had the would like to see is, we stand up, as the first time—and there will only be one majority leader not stood there and Senator from Texas is, and say what first time that anyone gets to speak on said: I object, the continuing resolu- we are for. We are for a different solu- this floor—to have that first time be in tion would be passed into law and the tion. We are for competition. We are support of that tremendous filibuster government would not be shutting for the free markets. We are for bring- that mobilized and unified the Amer- down. The majority leader had every ing health care to everyone with a ican people. opportunity to not shut down the gov- lower price. We went through this I will note that one of the things I re- ernment. whole debacle of giving people member the Senator shared with me Let me be absolutely clear. We ObamaCare and it is going to be expen- afterward was the advice he just gave a should not shut down the government. sive. Everybody is going to pay more. minute ago. I remember asking: What I sincerely hope Senator REID and Many people still will not have insur- do you think? The Senator was pretty President Obama do not choose to force ance. The ones who do have insurance weary at the end. His comment at the a government shutdown simply to force are going to pay more. So what would time was, well, I wish I had worn more ObamaCare on the American people. we like? Why are we here today? Why comfortable shoes. I will confess I That would be a mistake. Instead, what is the Senator from Texas here today? thought about that. That struck me as we should do is listen to the American To say to the President: We need to pretty good advice. people. Make DC listen. talk. What does the President say? He I am going to make an embarrassing Mr. PAUL. Would the Senator yield says: My way or the highway. admission right now. I will get to the for one quick question? When the American people said they question in a second, but I wanted to Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a want dialog between Republicans and make an embarrassing admission first. quick question without yielding the Democrats, how do we get there? We For many years, when I was in private floor. have to stand for what we believe in so practice and when I was solicitor gen- Mr. PAUL. Since we are making it they will come and talk. Does it mean eral, I wore a particular pair of boots, clear, the Republican message and al- we are going to get 100 percent of what my argument boots. They were black ternative here is not to shut down the we want? No. But if we do not stand for ostrich boots. Litigators are kind of su- government; our desire is to have no what we believe, how will we have any perstitious, so anytime I went into ObamaCare. We desire not to have it. dialog? How will we get to com- court to argue a case I wore my argu- We think he went in the wrong direc- promise? How do we get them to talk ment boots. I had them resoled four or tion. But we don’t control the govern- to us? We are not asking for 100 percent five times. ment. We don’t control the govern- of what we want, but we are asking for When I had the great honor of serv- ment. We don’t control the Senate. It a dialog. How do we get the dialog un- ing in this body, of being sworn into is controlled by the opposition party. less someone is willing to stand and the Senate, when I was sworn in stand- We don’t control the Presidency. say: Enough is enough. When we look ing on the steps just in front of us, I My question to the Senator is, If he at this, if we want to ever get to the wore my argument boots. I have worn can’t get everything he wants, if he

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.047 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6718 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 can’t defund ObamaCare, which is ex- ple that would be first bill I would in- ance, but is this not the first step to- actly what he and I both agree on, and troduce. ward socialized health care—socialized millions of people across America want They were utterly befuddled why health care—and is stopping socialized us to get rid of ObamaCare, if the Sen- anyone would actually do what they health care worth pulling out all of the ator can’t, if he stands today and ar- said. stops and fighting the fight? gues and cannot get rid of it, will he In answer to the Senator’s question Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from accept a compromise? Will he work of whether I will vote for something Kansas for that very fine question. He with the President and will he work that is a middle ground that funds is exactly right. Socialized medicine with the majority leader if they are ObamaCare partially, no. Why? Be- is—and has been everywhere it has willing to come and say: You know, cause, as I have repeatedly told the been implemented in the world—a dis- you are right. We messed up on a bunch American people, as I have told Texas, aster. ObamaCare—its intended pur- of this. There are a lot of people who I will not vote for a continuing resolu- pose is to lead us unavoidably down are going to be hurt by ObamaCare. A tion that funds ObamaCare. But that that path. lot of part-time workers are going to being said, are there Members of our I thank the Senator from Kansas for lose their jobs or are going to lose conference who would like to see a his good question on that front and for hours. There are going to be real work- compromise, who would like to see a his leadership. ers who are full time who are going to middle ground that is perhaps not what I would note that there are some Re- lose their insurance or lose their jobs. I very much want and will fight for publicans, some commentators who Is the Senator willing to work with us? with every ounce of strength I have but have said: Don’t fight this fight. Don’t Is he willing to work with the leader, that mitigates some of the damage of fight to defund. Why? Because Senator REID, and with the President ObamaCare, that responds to the peo- ObamaCare is going to collapse on its to find a compromise? ple who are suffering from ObamaCare, own weight. If we just stay quiet, we Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from I think there are quite a few Senators don’t take any risks. Give it time; it is Kentucky for that question. I think it who would like to see that happen. getting worse and worse. Stay out of is a very good question. If Republicans roll over on the clo- the way; it is going to collapse on its This afternoon the Senator and I and ture vote on Friday or Saturday, if we own weight. And there is both truth all the Republican Members of the con- allow the majority leader to fund and falsity in that prediction. There is ference spent some 2 hours in a closed- ObamaCare with 51 votes, we will get no doubt that ObamaCare is going to door strategy session. I am not going no compromise. There will be no mid- collapse. But the problem is that the to reveal what anyone else said there, dle ground because there will be no rea- way it will collapse, if it is imple- but I certainly feel comfortable reveal- son to compromise. It is much like a mented, is likely to permanently dam- ing what I said there, which is that if poker game. I know the Senator from age the private health insurance sys- we are going to make real progress in Kentucky—many of his libertarian sup- tem, which will result in millions of solving the problem that is porters enjoy a good game of poker. As people losing their health insurance ObamaCare, in listening to the Amer- a Texan, I will admit to not being en- and having no ability to go back. That ican people and mitigating the job tirely adverse to it myself. In a game is what enables Majority Leader REID losses, with people losing their health of poker, if somebody makes a bet and to go on television and say: Fear not, insurance, all of the harms that are then says to you ‘‘if you raise me, I am this will lead us to single-payer govern- coming from ObamaCare, we have to going to fold,’’ you will lose 100 percent ment health care. Because when stand and fight right now. of your poker games. That is a path to ObamaCare collapses in shambles—he The battle before this body is the clo- losing. doesn’t say this, but this is the nec- ture vote that will occur on Friday or For those Members of the Republican essary reasoning that leads him to Saturday of this week. If all 46 Repub- caucus who were perhaps not as ada- this—it will take down the private licans vote together in unity to sup- mant that we should insist on a com- health insurance business with it, so port the House Republicans and to plete and total defund now, I don’t in- there will be nothing left. deny Majority Leader REID the ability tend to waiver from that position, but Listen, I commend the majority lead- to fund ObamaCare on a straight party- there may be others who disagree. er for his candor. I mean, there is a de- line vote, that puts us in a position to If you want to get to any middle gree of courage in embracing socialized address the problem. ground that is not a symbolic vote to medicine. There are a number of Mem- The Senator’s question was would I tell our constituents but that actually bers of the Democratic caucus who em- vote for something less than defunding changes the law to make things better brace socialized medicine. I think ObamaCare. Personally, no. Why? Be- for the men and women at home, to every one of them shows courage and cause I have committed publicly over mitigate the harms of ObamaCare, the candor. I am very happy to debate in and over to the American people that I only way to do so is for Republicans to great detail whether socialized medi- will not vote for a continuing resolu- stand united and to deny the majority cine would be good or bad for this Na- tion that funds one penny of leader the ability to fund ObamaCare tion. ObamaCare. on a 51-vote partisan vote. I don’t think the American people I am reminded of when I first arrived Mr. ROBERTS. Would the courageous are conflicted. If you look at the na- in the Senate. I spent 2 years cam- Senator from Texas yield for a ques- tions that have socialized medicine, ev- paigning for the Senator from Ken- tion? eryplace it has been implemented you tucky. Senator PAUL campaigned with Mr. CRUZ. I yield for a question see low quality, you see scarcity, you me in Texas over and over. without yielding the floor. see waiting periods, and you see gov- If you want to talk about a rock star, Mr. ROBERTS. Let me ask the Sen- ernment bureaucrats getting between you should see, when RAND PAUL shows ator a question to cut to the chase. you and your doctor. If you go in for up in Texas, the huge number of fans Let’s get to the bottom line. Former government treatment, you may be who come out for Senator PAUL and for Speaker of the House NANCY PELOSI, told that you are going to have to wait his dad. our respected leader of the Senate, 6 months, you are going to have to wait I spent 2 years campaigning in Texas HARRY REID, because of his position, a year or, you know what. A bureau- saying: The first bill I will introduce in Secretary of Health and Human Serv- crat in the ministry of Congress will be a bill to repeal ices Kathleen Sebelius, and President whatchamacallit has determined you ObamaCare. Barack Obama have all said publicly don’t get that treatment. That is what When I showed up, there were lots of that the Affordable Care Act is the has happened in every socialized medi- reporters. I introduced the bill to re- first step to a single-payer system. Lis- cine country in the world. And so to peal ObamaCare. ten to the folks on the other side of the those on the Republican side, those They immediately said: Well, why aisle, and many of them say the same commentators who say this is a risky did you do that? thing. fight, I have never once suggested this My response: Well, I spent 2 years We can call it a single-payer system, is an easy fight. But in my 42 years on campaigning telling the American peo- we can call it national health insur- Earth, I have yet to see any fight that

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In leaving ObamaCare alone will nec- of this week is the most important other words, the government is going essarily lead us to socialized medicine vote that I will have taken—I think to be the one that pays for everything. because private health insurance will that any Member of the Senate will In health care in America there will be collapse—ObamaCare will collapse— have taken—in the 9 months I have only one payer, the government, and it and there will be nothing left, what a served in this body because it goes fun- would then, since it is a predominant call to urgency. Indeed, I would say the damentally to: Will we respond to the power, be able to dictate health policy, majority leader, in making that argu- suffering ObamaCare is causing? Will such as in the socialized medical sys- ment, should be one of the most effec- we respond to the millions of people tems that have failed around the world; tive spokespersons for saying we ought who are jobless? Will we respond to the would it not? to have 46 Republicans uniting and vot- people getting forced into part-time Mr. CRUZ. The Senator is absolutely ing against cloture on this bill to say: work? Will we respond to the people correct. Once the government is paying No, we are not going to let a partisan who are losing their health care or will for health care, it controls health care. Democrat vote fund ObamaCare be- we continue to say: For me but not for That has proven to be the case in every cause we are not going to be complicit thee. Different rules apply to Wash- country in the world. in any way, shape or form with de- ington that apply to the ruling class. I agree with the Senator from Ala- stroying private health insurance and The President can grant exemptions to bama that it is commendable that forcing Americans into socialized med- the big corporations and to Members of there are some Members of this body icine. Congress, but hardworking American who openly embrace socialized medi- Let me note that in the meantime, families, you guys are left in the cold. cine. That is commendable for candor. even for those who somewhat serenely I would suggest that is a fundamental I don’t agree with it as a policy matter, say: Fear not; this is going to collapse abdication of our responsibility. We are but I actually think there is virtue to on its own. The process will inevitably here—or we should be here—fighting speaking honestly about what it is you be painful. Just a few minutes ago I for the people. support and not occupying the middle read a letter from a constituent from Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, ground, as those—to take a quote from Euless, TX, who is disabled and on a will the Senator yield for a question? Teddy Roosevelt slightly out of con- fixed income, whose wife has retired Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a text—cold, timid souls who know nei- and who has lost his insurance because question without yielding the floor. ther victory nor defeat. of ObamaCare. There are millions of Mr. SESSIONS. By chance, or maybe One of the problems in this debate Americans in Kansas, in Kentucky, in because of the significance of it, my over ObamaCare is the relatively few Alabama, in Texas, and in States all first question is very similar to what who are candid about what ObamaCare over this country who are worried Senator ROBERTS had asked, because I is designed to do. It is worth noting, as right now because their health insur- have given a lot of thought to this. I Senator SESSIONS has, that Majority ance is in jeopardy. In my view the de- haven’t signed letters. I haven’t said Leader REID is not a passive observer cision of some Members of the Senate how I was going to vote on this issue. from the sidelines. He is the man re- to say: Well, let ObamaCare collapse— But it was called to my attention that sponsible, in his role as majority lead- either on the Republican side because Senator REID, the majority leader, flat- er, for passing ObamaCare through this when it collapses it will all just magi- ly stated a month ago he believed in a body with only Democratic votes— cally go away, or on the Democratic single-payer system. without a single Republican vote. So side because when it collapses it will They asked him: Is it the Senator’s when he says it is designed to lead to a lead us all to the perfect utopia of so- goal to move toward a single-payer sys- single-payer system, when he says it is cialized medicine—is easy. It is easy tem? And his answer is: yes, yes, abso- designed to lead to socialized medicine, for Members of this body to say such lutely yes. we should trust that he knows what he things from the cheap seats, particu- I just left the Budget Committee is talking about. larly when the President has granted hearing. We have a great team there, Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, if an exemption to Members of Congress on the Republican and Democrat side, the Senator will yield again for a ques- from ObamaCare, where they feel that and my friend SHELDON WHITEHOUSE tion. if the system collapses, if millions of and I had a little exchange about the Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a Americans are suffering, it is not going new health care law, and I thought he question without yielding the floor. to be us. It is not going to be our staff. was suggesting it wasn’t much of a Mr. SESSIONS. And is it not true— The President has carved us out for change. So I asked him this, I said: The since Senator REID has made his posi- special rules. It is just going to be the majority leader said he favors a single- tion crystal clear ideologically, and American people. payer system. He said: I do too. based on the actions the Senator from The most fundamental divide that is It wasn’t long ago in the Budget Texas and I have observed—that he has happening here is this body has stopped Committee that Senator BERNIE SAND- steadfastly resisted any change what- listening to the American people. We ERS also said he favored a single-payer soever in the legislation as passed, cer- ought to have the urgency for this man system. And Senator ROBERTS men- tainly any change that would constrict and woman in Euless, TX, who is dis- tioned others. And of course the Presi- its power and reach? abled and on a fixed income and retired dent did. I checked the President’s Mr. CRUZ. I think Senator SESSIONS and who wants to keep his health in- quote from 2003. He has denied it since, is exactly correct. surance, that we have for ourselves and when he was trying to get the votes to If we look at the way this vote is set our staffs. We ought to have that kind pass the new law, but in 2003 he said he up, Republicans are being asked to vote of urgency. And you know what. If it was a proponent of a ‘‘single-payer uni- with majority leader HARRY REID to were our wife or our husband’s health versal health system.’’ shut off debate on this bill. Any Repub- insurance, we wouldn’t say: Let the I think this is a huge national issue. lican who votes yes on Friday or Satur- system collapse because, in time, there This new health care law is clearly day to invoke cloture will be voting will be a political victory. I guarantee driven by an agenda: to have a single alongside majority leader HARRY REID if it were our spouse’s, if it were our payer. So I ask Senator CRUZ: If there to give Leader REID the authority to daughter’s or son’s health insurance, is a single payer, who will the payer fund ObamaCare using just 51 votes on particularly if they had significant be? a straight party-line vote, which is ex- health issues, not one of us would be Mr. CRUZ. The payer is always the actly how ObamaCare passed in the serene in saying: Let it collapse, be- government, which ultimately means first place.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.050 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6720 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 At the same time the majority leader The problem is too many Members of were janitorial or service industry has made clear he is not going to allow this body are not listening, and we workers and were paying their rent out other amendments. He is not going to need to make DC listen. of their own pocket. Because of allow amendments that would improve Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, ObamaCare, because of having their ObamaCare or fix ObamaCare. He is not without yielding the floor, will the hours reduced, they weren’t able to pay going to allow the amendment of Sen- Senator yield for a further question? the rent. I will read two sentences from ator VITTER, as we talked about ear- Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a a constituent letter from a commercial lier, that would correct or get rid of question without yielding the floor. real estate broker in Chesapeake City, the congressional exemption and treat Mr. SESSIONS. I notice a real low VA. Members of Congress the same as the number of jobs being created this year. Most of the tenants work in fast food, jani- American people, get rid of President And the reports were that 77 percent of torial, and low-paying service-related jobs. A Obama’s lawless exemption, and stop those jobs created this year were part- great deal of them had their hours cut to 29.5 treating Members of Congress like a time, not full-time jobs. hours per week and cannot pay the rent. privileged ruling class who are dif- Allan Meltzer, one of the great So they are losing their apartments ferent from the American people. Lead- economists in the last 50 years, a and being forced to live elsewhere. This er REID has said he is not going to knowledgeable observer of our econ- is a tragedy playing out across this allow a vote on that, not going to allow omy, just testified in a Budget Com- country, and it is incumbent on this a vote on repealing the medical devices mittee maybe 3 hours ago that body to listen to the people. We need to tax that has been crippling the medical ObamaCare was a factor in that occur- make DC listen. Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, devices industry, and that is killing in- ring. will the Senator yield for a question novation and killing jobs. Would the Senator agree that we have had this extraordinary increase in without yielding the floor? If Republicans are complicit in shut- Mr. CRUZ. I will yield for a question ting off debate and allowing just a sin- part-time jobs rather than full-time jobs, and that is hammering working without yielding the floor. gle vote on funding ObamaCare, then Mr. SESSIONS. I know the Senator we have only ourselves to blame. If we Americans who need full-time work? Mr. CRUZ. Senator SESSIONS is abso- is aware that the number of people em- give the majority leader the power to lutely right. One of the most dev- ployed in the workforce today has fall- do that, we should not be surprised astating consequences of ObamaCare is en to the lowest level since 1975 and when he exercises it. It is within the that it is forcing so many Americans wages have declined. We learned today power of the 46 Republicans in this into part-time work. The U.S. Chamber in our Budget Committee hearing we body to say no, to say: No, we will not of Commerce 2013 second quarter small have had a surge from around 300,000 shut off debate that allows the major- business survey found that among people working part-time to 1 million. ity leader to use 51 votes to fund These are bad trends, but one place small businesses that will be impacted ObamaCare on a straight party-line has avoided that; that is, the Wash- by the employer mandate, 50 percent of partisan Democratic vote. We will not ington, DC, area. It has had more job small businesses say they will either be complicit in a process that treats growth, higher income job growth than cut out to reduce full-time employees Members of Congress like a privileged any place in America. or replace full-time employees with ruling class and that ignores the cries If this bill becomes entrenched into part-time employees to avoid the man- for help from the American people. All law, will it not create a huge addi- date, and 24 percent say they will re- we have to do to accomplish that is for tional increase of government workers duce hiring to stay under 50 employees. Republicans to stand together and and bureaucrats in and around this As Senator SESSIONS knows, this is stand united. city, all riding on the backs of Amer- not one isolated anecdote here or ican workers? It is my hope, my fervent hope, that there. According to the U.S. Chamber the voices of dissension within the Re- Mr. CRUZ. The Senator from Ala- of Commerce, this is 50 percent of bama is absolutely correct. One of the publican conference will stop firing at small businesses reducing employees’ each other and start firing at the tar- disturbing trends we have seen in re- hours forcibly or just hiring part-time cent years is the boom business in our get. And let me be clear who the target employees instead. This is an enormous is. The target is not Democrats. I don’t economy is government. There are lots problem. Who gets hurt? When some- of consequences to that; one is that the want us to start firing at Democrats or one gets their hours reduced to 29 best and the brightest learn, hey, you at the President or at anyone else. It is hours a week, it is never the CEO. It is want to have success, go into govern- not about us. The target is ObamaCare. usually not the lawyers. It is usually ment. The private sector? That is ap- It is fixing this train wreck that is not the professionals. It is absolutely parently not what America is about. hurting the American people. never Senators and Members of Con- Look right now at government em- If Members of the Republican con- gress. ployees who are paid substantially ference in the Senate could devote one- The people whose hours get forcibly more than their counterparts in the tenth of the ferocity they have devoted reduced are almost always, without ex- private sector. It is one of the reasons to fighting within the caucus on this ception, the vulnerable among us. They Senator VITTER’s amendment would issue, to actually stopping are the young, they are the Hispanics, say that Members of Congress shall be ObamaCare—not a symbolic vote, not a the African Americans, the single mom subject to the same rules as the Amer- press release, not a speech, but actu- working in a diner, struggling to feed ican people and not have the special ex- ally fixing the problem—I could think her kids, to be a good example to her emption President Obama has put in of nothing better this Senate could do. kids, who suddenly finds instead of place is so important and why I sup- And you know what. If, instead of 100 having one job where she works her fin- port an even broader amendment that Senators, this Chamber had 100 citizens gers to the bones to take care of her would include all Federal employees on picked from our States at random, I kids, she has to get two because 29 the ObamaCare exchanges. guarantee not a one of them would say hours a week is not enough to provide Our friends on the Democratic side of in discussing this: You know what we for her kids. Suddenly she has two jobs, the aisle routinely say ObamaCare is need is a bunch of symbolic votes. They both at 29 hours a week. She has to terrific, it is great. If that is the case, wouldn’t say that. Regular people who commute from one to the other. She then Members of Congress should be live on planet Earth would know a has to deal with two bosses. Boss No. 1 excited about being on those ex- symbolic vote is not a good thing or says: I want you at work Tuesday changes, which are apparently so great bad thing. They would say, if we morning. Boss No. 2 says: I want you at for our constituents, and so should grabbed any hundred—and I wouldn’t work Tuesday morning. What is a sin- Federal workers. But they are not, in- even have a partisan screen on it. I gle mom supposed to do? deed, as the Senator from Alabama would grab 100 people at random, and I Earlier this afternoon I read from a knows well. guarantee you they would say: We have constituent’s letter talking about low- This issue has caused more con- to fix ObamaCare. This thing is hurting income housing in Virginia, where a sternation among Members and con- people. significant percentage of the residents gressional staff than probably any

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.051 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6721 other issue because people are quite Is that the way the Senator sees the you hear someone talk about invoking rightly afraid of losing their health in- situation we are in today? cloture on the motion to proceed, it is surance and losing their coverage. Mr. CRUZ. Senator SESSIONS is abso- utterly incomprehensible to virtually That concern is not irrational. There lutely correct. I would note, first of all, anyone in the country. Indeed, I sus- are many good public servants, con- the Senate Democrat who is the lead pect more than a few people on the gressional staffers who are Federal em- author of ObamaCare has referred to floor of the Senate right now don’t ployees, even who are Members of the ObamaCare’s implementation as ‘‘a quite understand what it means. Senate. It is not irrational at all for major train wreck.’’ That is not I But what is all the procedure about? them to be concerned about losing speaking. That is not Senator SESSIONS Why should you care about filling the their health insurance and forced onto speaking. That is the lead author of tree? You should care about it because poor-quality health insurance. But ObamaCare, a Democratic Senator. it is a tool of power, of silencing the that desire shouldn’t push us to say I commend his candor. It is indeed a people, and using the positions of let’s exempt them. We don’t want to be major train wreck. I have no doubt power to enforce Washington’s ideolog- subject to it. That desire should push that more than a few of his colleagues ical view on the rest of this country. us to fight for hard-working American on that side of the aisle were unhappy If we got out of Washington, DC, if families. That desire should say: If we with him for speaking the truth on we went to the American people and don’t want to be on the exchanges, let’s that. said what are your top priorities—we not make anyone else be on them. That There should be a lot more truth- actually have. We don’t have to hy- divide between Washington—the ruling speaking in this body, not engaging in pothesize about that. The American class—and the American people is the partisan team politics but speaking the people over and over again say jobs and most significant reason for the disillu- truth for the American people. That the economy are their top priorities. sion we see. was commendable for Senator BAUCUS The American people want ObamaCare The view from Americans all over to speak for the American people and stopped because it is not working, it is this country—and this is true of con- say this is a major train wreck. We killing jobs, it is pushing people into servatives and liberals—is that Wash- need to all acknowledge it is a major part-time work. Yet this Senate has ington doesn’t listen. Politicians don’t train wreck and then step forward to not been listening to the American listen. We just had an August recess. A avert the train wreck. people. significant number of Members of this Senator SESSIONS’ second point is a We need to make DC listen. body held no townhalls, didn’t go back very important one. I note Senator Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, and listen to their constituents. You SESSIONS is an elder statesman in this will the Senator yield for a question? can’t fault Americans for saying politi- body, has served admirably a great Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a cians don’t listen to us when, in fact, many years, fighting for the citizens of question without yielding the floor. politicians don’t listen to us. That is Alabama, and is well experienced when Mr. SESSIONS. I would also observe, what this fight is about. a day a time existed when the Senate and the Senator probably is aware, it If it is just up to Washington, we are operated like a deliberative body, does appear there is a budget point of not going to have to do anything to where Senators would speak and offer order against this whole continuing stop ObamaCare. For one thing, Mem- amendments and amendments could be resolution. I want to mention a couple bers of Congress and their staff are ex- considered. That doesn’t occur now. of things. empted so there is no urgency. But if The practice Senator SESSIONS re- I want to thank the Senator for hav- we listen to the American people, there ferred to, and I suspect some folks may ing the courage to stand here and raise is urgency. That is why it is so critical not be familiar with, is called filling the concerns I am hearing all over my that we make DC listen. the tree. Filling the tree has become State. I had three separate meetings in Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, if commonplace. Filling the tree is a pro- August, as I traveled the State, with the Senator would yield for another cedural and parliamentary tree that small business groups. It is difficult to question. only the majority leader can do. The overstate the concerns they have with Mr. CRUZ. I would be happy to yield majority leader has a privileged role this law. They tell me without a doubt for a question without yielding the under the Senate rules in that he has it is impacting their willingness to hire floor. priority of recognition, the ability to and the uncertainty in the workplace Mr. SESSIONS. I know the Senator insist he is the first Senator on the is damaging business in America, and is aware that Senator BAUCUS, the floor to be recognized. they are passionate about it. chairman of the Finance Committee, a Filling the tree enables him to do They are struggling to get by. They long-time Senator who I believe has what he has said he is going to do on are laying off people and they are not announced he is not going to run again this bill, which is file an amendment to happy about it. They say this law alone but shepherded this legislation through fund ObamaCare in its entirety and is the primary thing that is hammering the Senate and worked in many ways then fill the tree so no other Senator them in this country. I have given a lot to try to make it better—lost some can offer any amendments, so the other of thought to it. I am beginning to see battles in that time—has referred to 99 Senators are muzzled, we can’t offer that we have to use the opportunities this as a ‘‘train wreck’’ because there amendments to improve ObamaCare, we have to confront this issue and talk are so many things going wrong right we can’t offer amendments to fix about it and try to force some changes now. Did the Senator hear that from ObamaCare, and we can’t offer amend- and improvements. him? ments to do anything. Indeed, the more I appreciate the effort, and I am It seems to me we are at a point liberal Members of the Democratic going to support the Senator. I am where we have to push hard. That is caucus can’t offer amendments to going to oppose any advancing of the the conclusion I have come to, and I adopt a single-payer socialized medi- final bill that does not provide some will ask the Senator’s opinion. It seems cine system, which some of them open- change in ObamaCare. to me we are at a position where we ly embrace. That is a sign of a Senate I did not sign the letter, and have need to push hard to force discussion of that is not working. some great friends who see it dif- this legislation because the majority There should be open debate and ferently than I do who likewise are to- leader wants to make it even bigger there should be open amendments. One tally opposed to the health care law. I government, to take it even further. He of the great strengths of this body is want to be sure people who are listen- is blocking and going to resist any at- that all 100 Senators for most of the ing need to know good people, I think, tempt to have real debate, real amend- history of the Republic could offer any can disagree on this. But the Senator ments being offered. He will not allow amendment at virtually any time. stood up and raised the question and votes, and he is going to fill the tree That has all but disappeared. Why has forced us to confront it and talk about and otherwise dominate the Senate so it disappeared? it and I think it is good. I intend to we can’t even have the classic debate For folks who are at home watching support him. I am not going to vote to and amendments and votes to improve this debate, it is easy to let the proce- move a bill where we are sure we are this train wreck of a law. dure make your eyes glaze over. When going to be blocked from having any

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.052 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6722 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 meaningful discussion on one of the Let me note for those of you keeping human history almost everyone who most historic, damaging laws in maybe score at home, the momentum has con- has ever lived is basically trapped by the last hundred years that would basi- sistently been in favor of defunding whatever they were born into. If your cally move us to single-payer, govern- ObamaCare. Two months ago everyone parents were poor, you were poor. If ment-run socialized medicine. I think said it was impossible, the American your parents were farmers, you were a that is where we are heading. people were not behind it, the House farmer. I want you to think about what I thank the Senator for his leader- was not behind it, the Senate was not that means for a moment. Imagine for ship. Hopefully we can begin to force behind it, it could not happen. We saw a second—because all of us have this Senate to act. The House has al- the American people unite. We saw dreams and hopes, when you are young, ready acted. They have repeatedly over 1.6 million Americans sign a na- especially. Imagine for a second if you acted to fix this legislation, because it tional petition, we saw the House are someone with talent and dreams is so damaging. But the Senate, the unite, and now the Senate must unite, and aspirations and ambitions but Democratic Senate, refuses to act. It and I am grateful to Senator SESSIONS knowing that in the society you live refuses to listen. That is the problem I for his leadership and his support. in, none of that matters because you have. One way I have to express that is Mr. RUBIO. I thank the Senator for are not from the right people. You to support the position the Senator has his efforts here today and in the weeks don’t come from the right family. taken. that led us here. I ask the Senator Imagine how frustrating that must be. I thank him very much and wish him from Texas—let me preface this by say- That is the story of humanity up good luck. ing so much of the focus—if you read until about 200 years ago when the Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from the coverage, all the focus is on what is American experiment began, based on Alabama for his question and fun- going to happen, the process, the votes, something very powerful the Senator damentally for his support. His support who is going to vote what. I think that from Texas talked about a moment is very needed. Senator SESSIONS is a is important and I think we will have a ago, the idea that every single one of man who is respected in this body. He conversation about that in the mo- us has a God-given right to go as far as commands the respect of his peers. ments to come. our talent and our work will take us. If you read the newspapers, the votes What I am most enthusiastic about The result is the most extraordinary have already been decided. If you in the last few hours is there is an in- story in all of human history. I point watch the TV commentators, I read creasing focus on why. Why are people that out today because I remember one newspaper article—it was actually so passionate about ObamaCare, par- growing up knowing my parents want- styled a news article—that talked ticularly those who are opposed to it? ed me to clearly understand that I about the ‘‘effort to defund Why is there a growing number of would have a chance to do things they ObamaCare, which is doomed to fail.’’ That was the lead, the opening line of Americans coming out and saying never had a chance to do because I what purported to be an objective news ObamaCare is a bad idea? Why are Re- lived in an extraordinary place unlike article. A lot of folks in official Wash- publicans united against ObamaCare? any that had ever existed before. Let’s be clear. We do have a tactical Fast forward to today and the chal- ington and the Washington establish- debate going on in the Republican lenges we face as a country. The one ment have said there is no way this can Party about the right way to stop thing that most worries me as I ana- happen. Three weeks ago they said there is no ObamaCare. What there is no debate lyze American politics and the state of way the House is going to vote to about among Republicans is this is a our country is there is a growing num- defund ObamaCare. Three weeks ago bad idea for the country. Why are we so ber of people who are starting to doubt you read it was impossible, cannot hap- passionate about that? I only speak for whether that dream is still true; a pen, will not happen. Yet on Friday the myself in what I am about to say, and growing number of people who are House voted overwhelmingly to defund I think it speaks for others. I will ask starting to wonder is it still true that ObamaCare. the Senator from Texas to comment in if you work hard and you sacrifice, you This week it is all the same pundits. a moment about that. I think some- can get ahead. Do you know why they A funny thing: Everyone who said it is times when you are born and raised, as are doubting that? Because they are impossible in the House—apparently I have been, your whole life in this working hard, they are working harder there are no consequences for their country, speaking for myself, some- than they ever have, they are sacri- being proved laughingly, totally, com- times it is easy to take for granted how ficing, and not only are they not get- pletely wrong. And they all come out special America is because this is all ting ahead, they are struggling to keep with the same certainty, the same deep you have known, this is all we have from falling behind. baritone voices, to say it is impossible ever been around so we take that for There are a lot of reasons why this is that the votes will be there in the Sen- granted a little bit. happening. Globalization has changed ate. Republicans will not stand to- I had a blessing, similar to the same the nature of our economy. So have ad- gether. one the Senator from Texas had. I ac- vances in information technology. We Let me point to just a minute ago. tually grew up around people who knew have an emerging skills gap in this Senator JEFF SESSIONS who, as he what life was like somewhere else. country where unfortunately many knows, was not on the letter Senator They knew what America had is special Americans have not acquired the skills MIKE LEE circulated, was not initially because they lived somewhere else and needed for these new jobs in the 21st part of the group—according to all of they knew what the world was like century. We have to address these the press, anyone who was not on the outside of America. It is a reminder things. Societal breakdown is real. It is letter was necessarily going to oppose that what makes America different and having an impact. In fact, it is one of us, and Senator SESSIONS is here, cou- special from the rest of the world is the leading causes of poverty in the rageously standing, and I appreciate that it is one of the few places in United States, and that is troubling his leadership, his principle, and his human history where no matter where too. courage. I am going to suggest this de- you start out in life, no matter how But for those of us who are in the bate is having exactly the function it is poor you were, no matter how poor Federal Government and in the policy- supposed to. your parents were, no matter how dis- making branch of government, I think Back when this body was in fact the connected they may be from power, if it is time we realize that one of the world’s greatest deliberative body, as it you are willing to work hard and you leading threats to the American dream was reputed to be, debates were about are willing to sacrifice, you can have a is the policies that are being pursued moving hearts and minds and making better life. at the Federal level, policies that are the case. How can we best serve the For us Americans, that seems, of undermining the free enterprise sys- American people? Now, sadly, debates course, right. That is the way it has al- tem. Here is why that is important— usually occur in an empty Chamber ways been. It is not. In fact, for almost because the only economy, the only and the Washington establishment all of human history that has not been economic system in human history tells us this is the result of the vote be- the case. In much of the world that is that rewards hard work, sacrifice, and fore it happens. still not the case. For almost all of merit is the American free enterprise

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.054 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6723 system. The evidence is all over the is directly hurting. That is just one ex- and start a family. A lot of people are world. Look all over the world at peo- ample. There are multiple examples. having to put that off for a lot of rea- ple whose families have lived in pov- Senator CRUZ and I could cite examples sons. ObamaCare will be one of the rea- erty for generations, who now have all night of real people who will be hurt sons. You know why? Because that job joined the middle class. They live in in this way. or career you wanted to start may not countries that are trying to copy the I have one more point that has not be created now because of ObamaCare. been talked about enough. Medicare American economic example. They What if you worked your whole life— Advantage is a program that gives sen- don’t live in countries that embrace so- like the 3 million seniors who live in iors choices. It has competition. There cialism, they don’t live in countries Florida—and are living with dignity, are different companies that provide that embrace big government. They security, and stability, and can finally Medicare Advantage benefits, and they live in places that are trying to move sign up for the Medicare Advantage compete for the business of seniors by toward free enterprise. Free enterprise plan, but now ObamaCare is hurting has eradicated more poverty than all offering additional benefits. My mom is a Medicare Advantage re- you? That is the irony in all of this. the government programs in the world The very people they said this plan— combined. That is the story of free en- cipient. She is heavily marketed every year because—like all seniors are in this bill, this idea—would help are the terprise. That is why it is startling very people it is hurting the most. that over the last few decades, Federal that area—they want her business. How do they compete? They offer transpor- That, by the way, is the experience of policies have contributed steadily to big government. undermining the free enterprise sys- tation, free pharmaceuticals, or what- tem. ever it may be. Well, guess what. I know that big government sounds We talk about all those policies, but ObamaCare takes money out of Medi- appealing sometimes when you are ObamaCare is an example of that. You care Advantage, not to save Medicare hurting and struggling to make ends ask yourself how does ObamaCare un- but to fund ObamaCare. Later this meet and then a politician comes along dermine the free enterprise system? year—in early January—these seniors and says: I’m going to create a new There are a few examples. First, be- are going to get a letter in the mail program called jobs for Americans and cause of the disruptive costs and rules saying that their Medicare Advantage health care for everybody. When you created by ObamaCare, there are thou- plan no longer offers X, Y, or whatever are struggling, this stuff sounds entic- sands of middle-class jobs that will not some of these benefits are. That is just ing. The problem is it never works. be created. These are jobs that were another example of who is hurt by this. Anytime and anywhere it has been going to be created that someone want- Why are we passionate? Why are we tried, it has failed, and it will fail ed to create. I met a restaurant owner. here about this? Look, we have an ideo- again. It doesn’t work. I think he was from Louisiana. He tes- logical objection to the government In fact, big government hurts the tified before the Small Business Com- being involved in such a widespread people who are trying to make it. If mittee. He wants to open new res- way in health care, but now it is be- you are a multibillion-dollar corpora- taurants. He has specific sites in mind. yond that. We are passionate about tion or a millionaire or billionaire, you He knows he can make it work. He is this opportunity that we have to stop may not like big government, but you not going to do it and he cites ObamaCare because of the impact this can afford to deal with it. If you are a ObamaCare as the reason why. Those is having on real people. At the end of major corporation in America, you can are jobs that were going to be created the day, that is what we are fighting hire the best lawyers in America to that do not now exist because of for. We are not fighting against navigate whatever complex rules the ObamaCare. That undermines the free ObamaCare, and we are fighting for government throws at you. If you real- enterprise system. these people. ly don’t like it, you can hire the best ObamaCare has a mandate. It has al- By the way, the people we are fight- lobbyist in this city to write the laws ready been discussed here on the floor. ing for includes people who voted for in your favor or try to get them writ- It says if you have more than 50 full- the President. This includes, by the ten in your favor. time workers, you have to live by a way, people who didn’t vote for me or bunch of mandates that it creates. Do the Senator from Texas or the Senator However, if you are trying to start a you know what the result of that has from Utah. We are fighting for them business by using the free wi-fi at been? Businesses close to that number because they are going to be hurt by Starbucks or you are using the spare are deciding I don’t want to have 50 this. bedroom in your home to start a busi- employees, I want to have 48 or 49 so If your dream is to open your own ness, you can’t navigate all of that big that doesn’t apply to me because I business one day and to grow it, government stuff. You can’t afford to can’t afford for it to apply to me. Do ObamaCare will hurt you. It is going to hire a lobbyist to get a waiver from you know what that means? That make it harder for you to be able to do ObamaCare. That is the irony of this. means those were jobs that were going that. If your dream is to do what my The very people that big government to be created or those are jobs that parents did, which is to work a job so promises to help are the people it hurts were there but now they are part time. your kids could one day have a career, the most, and we are seeing it again That means you lost money out of your ObamaCare is hurting you too. It could with ObamaCare. paycheck. cost you the insurance you have now Who is getting waivers from It also has redefined, ObamaCare has that you are happy with. It could cost ObamaCare? The people who can afford redefined what part-time work is. An you hours out of your paycheck. It to influence it. That is the experience American economic reality is that could cost you your very job. of big government. It is the experience part-time work is anything less than 40 What about if you are working part of ObamaCare, and that is unfair. That hours, except for ObamaCare, anything time while you go to school at night? If is just not fair. It is not fair that in less than 30 hours. So what is hap- you are paying your way through America the people who are willing to pening? People working part time are school as a part-time worker, work hard and sacrifice are not able to losing their hours. ObamaCare is going to hurt you. You achieve a better life. That is wrong. Real world example. Sea World in are going to lose hours at work poten- Florida just announced it is moving tially because of ObamaCare. What if The only way to assure that those op- over 2,000 of its part-time employees you graduated from college? You fin- portunities are there is to embrace the from 32 hours a week to 28 hours a ished college and have done everything free enterprise system, not to under- week. That is not just a statistic. that has been asked of you. mine it or try to replace it with an ex- These are people who are losing 4 What do we tell young people in pansion of government that in the end hours’ worth of pay a week. America who go to school, get good will collapse under its own weight. But The very people that this bill is sup- grades, a degree, and dream of having a that is the direction we are headed in posed to be helping, the working class career and better life? What do they right now. and middle class—the people who are want to do? They want to graduate You want to know what the biggest trying to get ahead—are the people it from college, get married, buy a house, issue facing America politically is? It

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.055 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6724 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 is not whether Republicans or Demo- ple like this, we are not helping them. to change it. As long as this body, the crats win the next election, it is wheth- We are hurting them. If we hurt them, Senate, believes the opinions of these er we will continue to be an excep- we hurt the country because there can- 100 people in this room is more impor- tional country where anyone from any- not be an America without an Amer- tant than the American people, that where can accomplish anything or ican dream. We can’t be special and ex- will remain a true and accurate de- whether we will become like the rest of ceptional without the American dream, scription. But that is not our job. Our the world, just another powerful, rich and that is what is being undermined job is to listen to the people. country with a big economy, but no by big government and by ObamaCare. MARCO RUBIO’s parents were Cuban longer the place where hard work and At the end of the day that is why we immigrants. His dad was a bartender. sacrifice is enough. That is the choice are so passionate about this, and that It was a family experience that reso- we are being asked to make on issue is why this is an issue worth fighting nates powerfully with me because I after issue that comes before this body, for. came from a similar background. But and especially on this one. The Senator from Texas was reading more important than that, MARCO I will yield back to the Senator from stories and cases earlier today that he RUBIO’s story is the American story. Texas by just saying this: My parents heard from around the country, and There is not a Member of this Senate, were never rich. I told this story be- that is what these people are telling us. or a person in this country, who fore, but I tell it, not so much to talk That is what they are saying to us. doesn’t have a story just like that about me, but to talk about us, because They are saying: All we want is a somewhere in their background. this is our story, not just mine. My chance to turn our dreams into reality. The most unique aspect of the United parents were never rich. When they All we want is a chance to be able to States of America, I believe, is that we came here, they didn’t know anybody. work hard and sacrifice so we can are all the children of those who risked They had no money or connections. achieve a better life. All we want is for everything for freedom. I think it is They barely spoke the language. When you guys to give us a chance. the most fundamental aspect of our they first came here, they struggled. I ask the Senator from Texas: Isn’t DNA and what it means to be an Amer- They were discouraged. Sometimes that what this issue is all about? ican. What unifies all of us is that as they wondered if they made a mistake. Mr. CRUZ. The junior Senator from Americans we value liberty and oppor- Sometimes they thought that maybe Florida is absolutely correct. I agree tunity above all else. they should have stayed back in Cuba. entirely. Senator RUBIO is inspiring. One of the things I admire about Sen- Ultimately, they persevered and hung Senator MARCO RUBIO is a critical na- ator RUBIO is how he views issues in in there. tional leader. When Senator MIKE LEE this Senate. He doesn’t look at it from Ten years after they had been here, began this fight, MARCO RUBIO was how it impacts the titans of industry, my dad was working as a bartender and there from day one. He was there from such as the CEOs, but from how it im- my mom worked as a maid and a cash- the beginning, despite the protests and pacts people such as his dad and my ier. They bought their first home in despite official Washington saying that dad, the people who struggled and 1966. In fact, by 1971, they were so opti- he should know better than to stand climbed the economic ladder, seeking mistic about the future, that after both against the DC establishment and the American dream. of them were over 40 years of age, they stand for the people. If today you are a bartender at a Ne- had me, and then my sister a year and I don’t know if there is anyone more vada hotel or if you are washing dishes a half after that. Talk about optimistic effective, more articulate, or a more at a restaurant, like his father and my about the future. America fundamen- persuasive voice for conservative prin- father, respectively, ObamaCare is tally changed their lives because of ciples than my friend MARCO RUBIO. His hurting you. It is hurting you in a way free enterprise. race in Florida 2 years ago was sup- My dad had a job at those hotels be- that all the Senators who have a spe- posed to be impossible. I know that be- cause someone had access to money cial exemption from Barack Obama and risked it. They took a risk and cause I read it in the paper over and don’t have to worry about. It is hurting said: I am going to invest this money over. you because your job is in jeopardy. Actually, many of the same people into opening up a hotel because I be- You may well lose your job or you may are saying this fight is impossible. lieve in my idea. Because someone not have a job to begin with. They all said it with that same cer- took a risk, my dad and my mom had Maybe you would like to be a bar- a job. They weren’t rich. We never titude and that same deep baritone tender or wash dishes, but because of owned multiple homes. We never had a voice: This young lad RUBIO has no ObamaCare, there is no job to hire you. yacht. We never traveled to Europe. chance of winning this race. If it were Maybe it is hurting you because what There is nothing wrong with any of up to official Washington, they would used to be a 40-hour a week job has be- those things. have been right. By every measure of come a 29-hour a week job and your My parents lived the American official Washington, the winner of that boss has told you: I don’t have any dream. Why? Because they lived a life race that would have been picked was choice. ObamaCare kicks in at 30 hours no one in their family history had ever the governor of the State. All of Wash- a week, and it will bankrupt me. lived in terms of stability and security, ington was behind him. The only thing Suddenly you are struggling by ei- and they were able to provide opportu- that was standing with MARCO RUBIO ther working 29 hours a week and are nities for their children they them- was the people. unable to feed your kids or have to get selves never had. That is the American When he started, he was at 3 percent a second job and work 29 hours a week dream. It is about being able to fulfill in the polls. That is a condition I know and have to juggle your schedule, your God-given potential, whatever it well because 2 years later I found my- which results in making your life more may be, and it is what is at play right self in a similar position. Yet he ran a difficult than it was before—not to now. campaign where he crisscrossed the mention your concerns about health There are millions of people in this State of Florida. He listened to the insurance. Maybe you have a health in- country who are trying to achieve Florida people and got support from surance. their American dream. There are mil- the grassroots. His victory in 2010 was Maybe a person has a health insur- lions of people across America who are a transformational moment in Amer- ance plan they have been struggling to trying to do what my parents were able ican politics, and it is also emblematic pay, but it is important to them and to do for me and what Senator CRUZ’s about what this fight is about right they want to make sure their kids are parents were able to do for him. Our here. covered, they want to make sure their job is to make it easier for them to do If you trust the talking heads on tel- spouse is covered. Yet every year they it, not harder. Our job is to do every- evision, if you trust the reporters who see their premiums going up and up thing we can to ensure that this is the tell us what is up and what is down, and up. one country on Earth where that is what is white and what is black, then We remember when President Obama still possible. ObamaCare is here to stay and America was defending the ObamaCare bill. He When we pass bills such as has to continue to suffer with it be- promised the American people that as ObamaCare, which claims to help peo- cause we can never, ever do anything a result of ObamaCare, the average

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.056 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6725 family’s health insurance premium them from Congress, but Congress does ess,’’ he apparently wants to have his would drop $2,500. He said: That is have to act. cake and eat it too. He wants to have going to happen by the end of my first Although the President wields the it both ways. He wants to bring it up term. I would point out that the Presi- veto pen, the veto pen is not the legis- and subject it to one and only one dent’s first term ended 9 months ago, lation pen. He doesn’t have the power amendment—an amendment that and by the end of the President’s first to legislate on his own without the as- would strip out a very critical part of term, that promise was proven not just sistance of Congress. It is one of the the legislation, a part of the legislation a little off the mark, not just kind of reasons we are in this debacle today. It that probably is the ‘‘without which sort of a little bit not entirely accu- is one of the reasons we have, along not’’ element for many of the House rate; it was proven 100 percent, cat- with so many millions of Americans, Members who voted for it: the provi- egorically, objectively false. expressed this position that we would sion defunding ObamaCare. He wants Let me suggest to every American, if like to fund government while that amendment and no other. That is your health insurance premiums have defunding ObamaCare. This is some- not acceptable, and under that cir- dropped $2,500, as the President prom- thing the American people are calling cumstance, in my opinion and in the ised the average family—so there out for. It is something they are re- opinions of several of my colleagues, would be tens of millions for whom questing. It is something the House of some of whom we have heard from that is true—then I would encourage Representatives acted boldly and today, the appropriate way to register those Americans to enthusiastically bravely in doing, in standing behind that concern is to vote against cloture stand and defend ObamaCare. But there the American people. This really is on the bill if, in fact, that is what the is a reason it is so profoundly unpopu- what we are doing. This is the whole majority leader chooses to do. That is why we are fighting this par- lar, and it is because it hasn’t hap- reason we are concerned about this, be- ticular battle today. That is much of pened. Premiums have gone up, and the cause we want to stand with the Amer- what we are discussing today, is why it American people are hurting as a re- ican people and with the House leader- is that we should not be facilitating sult. So DC should listen to the people. ship, Speaker BOEHNER and the other the effort of Senate leadership to, in ef- leaders in the other body in Congress, We should make DC listen. fect, gut the House-passed continuing Mr. LEE. Will the Senator yield for a who bravely put forward this legisla- resolution of an extraordinarily crit- question? tion to keep government funded while ical element, an element without Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a defunding ObamaCare. which it could never have passed in the One of the things we have been con- question without yielding the floor. House of Representatives and an ele- Mr. LEE. I wish to ask the Senator cerned about today and one of the ment which, frankly, the American from Texas whether he has received things I think we need to focus on over people expect us to take up and discuss comments similar to those I have re- the next few days is the fact that with and debate. So either way—an open ceived from my constituents and from the House of Representatives acting amendment process, fine; an up-or- other concerned citizens from around last week, passing this legislation, this down vote on the bill as is, fine. What the country in recent months. I wish to continuing resolution to keep govern- is not fine is an effort to try to have it highlight a few and ask whether these ment funded while defunding both ways. are similar to comments the Senator ObamaCare, in order for us to stand be- Let me share with the Senator from from Texas has heard, concerns he has hind them, we have to monitor the Texas another comment I received heard expressed. manner in which that legislation is re- from a man named Michael who is also Let me start by sharing one ex- viewed over here. from Utah: pressed by Shawn from Utah, who says: Now that the House-passed con- We are getting a bigger and bigger govern- I do not like the fact that the President is tinuing resolution has reached the Sen- ment. They’re telling us what we should picking winners and picking and choosing ate, we have a few options. There are a have, what we are entitled to instead of pro- which parts of the law he will enforce. We few acceptable ways of treating this tecting a free people paving our own path. need the three branches of government to legislation now that it has been passed Government gets bigger while the job mar- keep freedom alive. by the House. One very acceptable ap- ket is getting crushed. I work for a company Well, Shawn from Utah, I share your in the middle of layoffs and more are to fol- proach would be for us to say: OK, let’s low. We can’t continue like this. concern. I would add to that, to Shawn bring up the House-passed continuing This is an acknowledgment that so from Utah, the fact that this is really resolution—the resolution that funds many people across our great country what started this effort. In other government but defunds ObamaCare— words, during the first week of July are making as they discover the impact and let’s have an up-or-down vote. 1 2013, when the President announced of this bill—passed into law some 3 ⁄2 Let’s vote for it as is, the same way it years ago—that has not increased in there were several provisions in the was crafted in the House of Representa- law he simply would not be imple- popularity over the last 3 years. tives. That would be an acceptable ap- Time might not have increased its menting, he simply would not be en- proach. I would be comfortable with popularity—in fact, it has had quite forcing, along the lines of what Con- that. the opposite effect—but time has had gress enacted with the Affordable Care Another acceptable approach would the effect of expanding its volume. It Act in 2010, it was at that point that I be to say: Instead of just taking it up has gone from 2,700 pages when it was and several others put our heads to- and passing it or not passing it as is, passed to more than 20,000 pages now gether and realized that if the Presi- let’s have an amendment process. Let’s when we add the implementing regula- dent is saying this law is not ready to allow Democrats and Republicans as tions. That is quite stunning. The implement, if the law objectively is not they may deem fit to offer amend- length of it is quite stunning. It re- ready to implement; if, as we now un- ments. Let’s debate those amendments, minds me of something James Madison derstand it, the law is going to make discuss their relative merits, the pros wrote—I believe it was in Federalist health care less affordable rather than and the cons. Let’s put those before the No. 62. He said, if I may paraphrase more affordable for so many Ameri- American people in the few days we him, it will be of little benefit to the cans, perhaps Congress shouldn’t be have left before the existing continuing American people that their laws may funding its implementation and en- resolution expires, let’s vote on all of be written by individuals of their own forcement. Perhaps that ought to be those, and then at the end of it we will choosing if those laws are so volumi- telling us something. get to the bill itself as it may have nous and complex that they can’t rea- So it is important to remember, as been amended by that point. That sonably be read and understood by the Shawn from Utah points out to us, that would be acceptable as well. American people. Well, 2,700 pages is a we do have three branches of govern- What is not acceptable is what many little too long. It is a lot too long. And ment. This is the legislative branch. have suggested will occur. Many have I certainly know that 20,000 pages is Our job is to make the laws. The Presi- suggested that the majority leader will much, much, much too long. dent does not have law-making author- bring up this bill and instead of saying That brings to mind a comment I re- ity. The President can seek changes in ‘‘let’s vote on it as is’’ or instead of ceived from Marcia, also from Utah, the law just as other citizens can seek saying ‘‘let’s have an amendment proc- who writes this:

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.058 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6726 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 However well intentioned Obama care may a decent living, in order to provide jobs that. It is much more than what people be, I do not feel this is the best solution. I for their few employees. This is some- will have to do with regard to the re- think something ‘‘less wordy’’ and more suc- thing we need to look out for. This is porting of some fairly personal details cinct would be a much better plan. If you something we may not, we must not about their lives to the IRS, an agency can’t say it in 5 pages or less, it may be best unsaid! The changes already enacted have lightly brush aside. that Americans have come to trust made it more difficult for me to get medical Here is something else some Ameri- substantially less than they already care. Not a big help! cans will sometimes lose—something did, as if that were possible. Well said, Marcia, very well said. they were promised they would not It is about the fact that the Amer- When we vote on legislation people lose—access to a doctor they like, ac- ican people—in addition to being made haven’t read, the American people tend cess to a doctor they have come to less free by this law, and in addition to to suffer. When we perpetuate a mis- trust over the years. being made less prosperous by this take once made embodied in a 2,700- This one comes from Jack from the law—are also required to fund its im- page bill, things go from bad to worse State of Texas. Jack says: plementation and its enforcement to much, much worse. My family doctor of 25 years is talking against them. That is where the power What we have right now is an oppor- about an early retirement because of policies of the purse must come into play. That tunity for us to debate and discuss the Obamacare is going to require him to follow is what makes it so appropriate, so es- merits of something that perhaps was that will compromise the oath he took when sential, so vital that we have this dis- not adequately debated and discussed he became an M.D. cussion right here and right now as we 31⁄2 years ago when this law was passed, This is sad, Jack. This is something consider spending legislation, spending when Members of Congress were told to we were promised would not happen, legislation that may well represent our pass this law to find out what is in it. and it is something that should not last best hope of achieving a degree of Well, we know a lot more about what is happen. This is something that we are delay or defunding of this legislation in it now. The American people have told is happening from time to time. before its primary operative provisions concerns. Ryan, also from Texas, writes: take full effect. That is why it is im- It is appropriate to have the discus- My mother is a middle-class mortician portant for us to have this discussion sion now in connection with spending whose health care coverage is going up by 68 right now. legislation because, after all, Congress percent for this poorly envisioned law with Let me emphasize again the impor- does have the power of the purse. Con- no other changes. She simply cannot afford tance of the cloture vote and the posi- gress is given this power, this responsi- to maintain health care coverage without tion we are taking on that. It is significant changes to her lifestyle, and for grounded fundamentally in the under- bility of making decisions regarding what? taxing and spending. It was for this standing that the House of Representa- Sometimes we have to ask that ques- reason the founding generation wisely tives acted in a manner consistent with tion: And for what? put it in the hands of the House of Rep- what the American people have been Sometimes we have to ask the ques- resentatives—the power of the purse— asking. I cannot emphasize enough the tion, the same question that physicians giving the House of Representatives fact that House Speaker JOHN BOEHNER are required to ask themselves: Are we the responsibility to initiate or origi- and his leadership team in the House— doing harm? It is my understanding nate bills relating to this power. It is the House Republicans have supported that when a physician becomes li- the House of Representatives that is, him in this effort. They did great work. censed, he or she must take an oath, an after all, the branch of a government They stood valiantly with the Amer- oath that involves an obligation to and of Congress that is most directly ican people who were calling out over- first do no harm. We as lawmakers responsive to the needs of the people. whelmingly for them to take this step, It is appropriate that we have this have to ask ourselves that question to keep government funded but defund discussion regarding funding or not from time to time. We as lawmakers ObamaCare. And that is what they did. funding a piece of legislation that is have to view ourselves as subject to a Now that they have acted, there are going to require a lot of money and is similar obligation to first do no harm. two approaches we could take to this going to be proven costly to the Amer- (Mr. DONNELLY assumed the chair.) that are perfectly appropriate. We ican people in many, many ways in the Some have said that when you are could vote on that legislation as is, up coming years—I say ‘‘costly in many carrying around a hammer, everything or down, or we could subject it to an ways’’ to reflect the fact that it is not starts to look like a nail. I wonder amendment process, allow Democrats just the cost of government money; it whether that is sometimes true of Con- and Republicans alike to present costs the American people a lot of gress and the law-making power. Be- amendments to make the House-passed things as well. It is costing them jobs. cause of the law-making power we resolution better, as they might deem It is costing them wages. It is costing wield, sometimes, when we view prob- fit. We can debate and discuss and vote them access to health care in many cir- lems, we assume we automatically, on each of those. Sure, it can be time- cumstances. necessarily, inevitably have the right consuming. Sure, it can be grueling. Let me read something I received solutions. Well, in some cases that may But that is our job. We took an oath to from Randy. Randy is from my neigh- be true. In other cases, it might be true do that job. We do this all the time— boring State of Idaho. Randy writes: in part. But that power might be used maybe not as much as we should. But a My wife and I have a small business with incorrectly. Sometimes when legisla- few months ago in connection with the about 20 employees. We struggle to stay in tion is hastily drafted, thrown together budget resolution, we as Senators business. We feel that if and when in a hurry, rather than for purposes of stood and sat—a little of both—here all Obamacare is implemented, we will not be making sure it is part of a cohesive night long. We voted all night long, able to continue to be in business. whole—something that will be a coher- until 5 o’clock in the morning. People Randy, I can’t tell you how many ent mechanism that can be imple- got a little cranky at times, but that is people I have heard make very similar mented in a commonsense fashion— what we are here to do—not to be comments from one end of my State of sometimes if it is thrown together too cranky, but we are here to vote, to cast Utah to the other and from people hastily and these cautions are ignored, votes on amendments. That is what we across America. You are not alone, we can end up doing a lot of harm, we had to do that day because there were Randy. A lot of people out there are can find ourselves first doing harm a lot of amendments. That is what we concerned as well. above all else, and that is not OK. should be doing with this if, in fact, we That is one thing people lose in addi- When we look at this law, and we decide we want amendments to the tion to wages or jobs or access to look at the fact that the American peo- House-passed resolution. health care—some of them lose the op- ple are funding its implementation, we So vote on it up or down as is; fine. portunity they have to stay in busi- discover it is much deeper than some- Subject it to an open amendment proc- ness. We are not talking about million- thing that deals with an individual ess; fine. Trying to have it both ways, aires and billionaires; we are talking mandate or an employer mandate or a the majority leader telling us this will about hard-working Americans who set of regulations governing the insur- be subject to one amendment, one put a lot on the line in order to make ance industry. It is much more than amendment only—an amendment that

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.059 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6727 would gut and render nugatory the op- Senate floor, which I have joked to my If we listened to the people, if we erative provision that was so impor- wife makes me happy because 20 years make DC listen, this would not be tant to so many House Members—that from now if there is some obscure po- about party, this would not be about is not OK. That is why those who agree litical geek trivial pursuit game, I am Democrats sticking to the bill they with us on this point, those who feel pretty confident I am going to be an passed, this would not be about Repub- that way, those who feel the American answer as to the first person to have licans afraid of political blame and re- people need us to stand up for them, the chance to read tweets on the Sen- percussions. This would be about 100 should vote no on cloture when we get ate floor. Senators listening to people and say- to the cloture vote on the bill later in I am going to do my best now to be ing: This bill is not working. this week. the second person. Now I am reading Because it kills jobs and the backbone of I would ask my colleague from Texas, tweets that concern the hashtag the American middle class. as to these concerns I have expressed, ‘‘DefundObamacareBecause,’’ but I will Because it’s killing free clinics and reduc- these statements that have been made note there has been another hashtag ing access to care. from people around the country—some tonight: ‘‘MakeDCListen.’’ And that Because Americans love freedom. of them my constituents in Utah, some hashtag has been trending higher and Because it’s a job-killing machine, up to of them from other parts of the coun- and including doctors. higher—‘‘MakeDCListen’’—and as the Because I don’t want government to con- try, including a couple from Texas— evening goes forward, I fully expect for trol my health care. what similarities does the Senator see those of you who have something you Because the free market works and govern- between these statements I have read want to say, but you are not currently ment regulation does not. today and comments the Senator has able to come to the Senate floor— Because Americans can’t live on part-time heard from his constituents as he has maybe in a few years you will be, wages and pay the outrageously high cost of traveled through his great State, a maybe you will be elected to the Sen- ObamaCare. State of great expanse and a State of ate and stand at your desk and make Because it violates Americans’ first close to 30 million people? What simi- amendment right to religious liberty. your arguments, but right now you are Because we the people don’t want it and larities does the Senator see between not—let me encourage you to tweet the government works for us. these statements and those he has with the hashtag ‘‘MakeDCListen,’’ Let me repeat that one again: ‘‘Be- heard around his State? and I expect later in the evening to cause we the people don’t want it and Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from read a sample of those tweets so we can Utah for that very insightful question. the government works for us.’’ help provide voice to those millions of Let me note something, by the way. Let me note there are many reasons Americans who are frustrated that DC why I love the Senator from Utah. But That hashtag was a simple hashtag: is not listening. ‘‘DefundObamacareBecause.’’ That is very near the top of the list is the fact But these are some of the tweets in the message that is coming from the that when he ‘‘paraphrases’’ the Fed- the past few days with the hashtag people. Washington is not listening. It eralist Papers, it is darn near a word- ‘‘DefundObamacareBecause.’’ is why tonight ‘‘MakeDCListen’’ is for-word, verbatim quote. MIKE LEE is It is just another way to gain control over trending higher and higher as a extraordinary and it is an honor to people. stand by his side and serve with him. Defund ObamaCare because I don’t want hashtag because that is what this fight The stories he has read are exactly the government dictating my health care. is about. Washington is not listening to consonant with the stories I have heard Because I don’t trust the government to the people. run my health care. Because it has already resulted in great all across Texas and, frankly, all across Because it was sold to us on lies. You can the country. This thing is not working. doctors leaving medicine. keep your insurance? No. My coverage re- Because government is not meant to force It is not political. It is not partisan. It duced to nearly nothing, premiums the same. me into something they have no business in. has nothing to do with what team you Because it’s too intrusive on our privacy. Because I’m against force and coercion Because it’s killing jobs and stifling the are on. The facts are clear. There is a from government. If it was a great idea, it economy. reason why the unions are jumping Because it’s forcing small businesses to lay would be voluntary. ship. There is a reason why Teamsters off full-time workers and replace them with Now that says something. President James Hoffa says ObamaCare part-time workers to avoid bankrupting If it was a great idea, why is the Federal is destroying the 40-hour workweek mandates. Government forcing you to be a part of it? that is the backbone of the American Because Congress should be representing By the way, why, at the same time, is the middle class. There is a reason why the us, we the people. A majority of Americans President granting exemptions to big cor- IRS employees union has asked to be don’t want ObamaCare. porations and to Members of Congress? If it Because it adds layers of government, inef- exempted from ObamaCare. These are is a great idea, they would not have to force ficiency, centralizes control to ivory-tower you to participate. If it was a great idea, the guys who are in charge of enforcing bureaucrats. Massive drag on the economy. it on the rest of us. They have asked to Members of Congress would not have asked Because it will lead to SINGLE-PAYER the President for an exemption so that Mem- be exempt because it is not working. health ‘‘care’’. bers of Congress get a special rule that does The facts are clear. It is a train wreck. ‘‘SINGLE-PAYER’’ is all caps and not apply to the American people. As the lead author Democratic Senator ‘‘care’’ is in quotes. Because I do not want bureaucrats in- put it: It is a train wreck. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. volved in my physician’s decisions on my In fact, let me share some of the Because it’s not even implemented yet and health care. tweets that have come in the preceding it has already raised my insurance rates and Because I value my freedom. days. In the preceding days, the Amer- reduced the quality of my medical care. Because it’s ruining the 40-hour work ican people had a chance to speak out Because cancellation notices from my car- week, according to unions. Because it is crony capitalism for the about ObamaCare and in particular rier due to ACA kind of ruined the narrative: Like it, keep it. Bombs away on ACA. health care industrial complex. there was a hashtag ‘‘DefundObama- Because I don’t want the government de- Because you don’t want a bunch of bureau- careBecause.’’ In the last several days, ciding my family’s health care. crats deciding which medical treatments you Americans all over this country have Because the cost of health care will in- can and can’t receive. What do they know? tweeted their reason why ObamaCare crease with quality decreasing. Empower the Because the government SHOULD NOT should be defunded. free market. own our medical data. I will note to Senator LEE that some Because it is a threat to jobs and our econ- Because the IRS will be enforcing it. omy. months ago, he and I stood on this Because I got laid off. My chances of find- Now, that is a pair that gives you same Senate floor, side by side with ing another job are slim too. None now. great comfort. The IRS in charge of it, our dear friend Senator RAND PAUL, Because it’s time people in DC do what’s the IRS employee unions publicly supporting him in his historic fili- best for this country instead of their polit- asked them to be exempted from buster on drones. At that time I had ical party. ObamaCare. Right now they are assem- the opportunity to read tweets that Let me read that one again: ‘‘Because bling the largest database in the his- were supporting RAND’s filibuster. To it’s time for people in DC to do what’s tory of our health care records. We the best of my knowledge, that was the best for this country instead of their have seen the IRS—their willingness to first time tweets had been read on the political party.’’ abuse their power. Under ObamaCare

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.060 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6728 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 right now, they just have access to our I cannot believe there are many Sen- Because it does nothing to reduce costs health care records so it is not like ators in this body who want to ap- while hurting many full-time employees who anyone should be concerned about it. proach voting like that. That is not a are dropped to part time. Because it makes health insurance less af- Because it is a job-killing, economy-de- responsible way to approach a job. The fordable, my premiums will be higher to sub- stroying, health care-ruining, debt-explod- facts are clear. This thing is not work- sidize people who cannot afford insurance. ing, out of control government mess. ing. All 100 of us ought to act to avert Because it actually does add a dime to the I like that one. this train wreck. deficit, and a lot of them. Because it is a job-killing, economy-de- Because it is and will continue to destroy Because— stroying, health care ruining, debt-explod- jobs, slow hiring, and move others to part- Three words in all caps. ing, out of control government mess. time status. —INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. Because ObamaCare is all about socialistic Because if you don’t, your doctor might Because it is killing full-time jobs and control of we the people and nothing to do just retire early. stunting the growth of businesses that want with fixing health care. to hire. Because it was rammed through in the How many know a doctor who is re- tiring early? I know quite a few who Because government should not be in dark of the night, and that should matter. charge of something as important as health Because it has already come between me are retiring. Do you think that is good care. and my doctors and it is not even fully im- for our health care system, seeing doc- Because the devil himself wouldn’t put the plemented yet. tors retire early? I know older doctors IRS between you and your doctor. Next time you see your physician, do who are advising young students, do I like that one too. you want your friendly neighborhood not go to med school. Do you think Because the more exemptions that are Federal bureaucrat sitting down and that is good for health care? Do you given out, the more ObamaCare won’t work. being part of the physician’s meeting? think that is going to expand our Because I cannot afford to get two jobs, I do not. I know Texans do not either, health care if we do not see bright pay outrageous prices for crappy insurance. I most Americans do not either. young students going to medical will lose my full time. Because it is a Trojan horse. Once inside it school? That is what ObamaCare is Because that time Congress passed the law will destroy us. doing. and then excluded themselves. Because even the unions agree it’s not #healthcarehypocrisy. working. Because you do not want an IRS agent de- Because doctors and hospitals are already Because we need the IRS to get out of our ciding if your mom lives or dies. becoming limited. lives, not make health care decisions for us. Because it makes health insurance less af- Because it is designed to collapse private Because it will cost Americans their jobs. fordable. My premiums will be higher to sub- insurance and force us all to single payer. Because it’s a red herring being used to sidize people who cannot afford insurance. Socialism. move the credit to a single-payer system. Because even the unions don’t want it. Because the IRS has shown they are will- Again, I would note that is not hypo- As we noted earlier, that is not— ing to abuse power for political gain. thetical. That is what majority leader some people dismiss that. Oh, single Because it’s not about care, it is about HARRY REID has publicly said on tele- payer, this is designed to go there. You government control. vision. know that is just crazy, tinfoil hat- Because I shouldn’t have to pay for the Because insurance isn’t very helpful when wearing stuff. But there is an old say- murder of innocent, unborn babies through you can’t find a doctor. ing: Just because you are paranoid abortion. Because I don’t need to spend a decade of doesn’t mean they are not out to get Because if it worked, Democratic Senators my life filling out government forms. would not have needed to be bribed to vote Because baby-boomer doctors will retire in you. Yes, there are people worried for it. about single payer. They have every droves, plus more who won’t practice in this Because the death panel is an unchecked environment. good reason to be, particularly when bureaucracy accountable to no one. Because if it is not good enough for Con- the majority leader of the Senate goes Because I love my current health care and gress, it sure as shooting is not good enough on television and says: The purpose of doctors. for the people. ObamaCare is to send people into a sin- Do you like your current health Those are sentiments we are hearing gle-payer system, government-provided care? Do you like your doctor? Do you from all across the country. Those are socialized health care. want to keep seeing your doctor? I tell sentiments that reflect the views of the That is the express purpose from you, Americans all over this country American people, not just in Texas, in those who voted for ObamaCare, to de- are losing their health care because of all 50 States, and not just Republicans stroy the private health insurance sys- ObamaCare. They are losing their abil- but Democrats, Independents, Libertar- tem and to move to single-payer gov- ity to see their doctors. That is what ians. The American people understand ernment socialized medicine. happens if the Senate does not act to that when you have a law that is kill- Because honestly the people do not want defund ObamaCare. ing jobs, when you have a law that is it. Because the majority of the country is Because problems cannot be solved by a hammering small businesses, when you against it. have a law that is forcing people into larger government than the one that created Because premiums up 100 percent after them. dropped off spouse’s plan. Elimination of part-time work and to work 29 hours a Because after 3 years, they are still trying meds coverage, reduction of choices and week, when you have a law that is to sell it to us. treatments. causing skyrocketing insurance pre- That is a good point. If it were such These are real people tweeting. They miums, when you have a law that is a great idea—don’t you remember at are sharing their stories of why they do causing more and more people to lose the time, they said: Gosh, when people not like ObamaCare. Do you notice their health insurance, you have a law get it, they are going to love it. It is these stories are not: Because I am a that is not working. going to work. You know what. If it Republican. Because I am a Democrat. You have a train wreck, as the Demo- had, we would be having a very dif- Because I believe in this ideology. It is cratic Senator who is the lead author ferent discussion. If it had worked, the because: This thing is hurting me and of this bill described it. Yet right now American people would support it. We my family. If this body were listening the Senate is not listening to the would see the results. We would see the to the people, we would have 100 Sen- American people. The Democrats in the benefits, and we would not have this ators concerned about all of the Ameri- Senate understandably have circled the debate. If it were working well, we cans being hurt by ObamaCare and wagons. They passed this bill, and even would not be having this debate be- here at any hour of the night ready to if it is a sinking ship, we have yet to cause the American people would sup- act to stop it. see Democrats come out and say: We port it. The facts are clear. So even Because no one wants to live in their par- tried it. It didn’t work. Let’s listen to those who voted 3 years ago, unless ent’s basement forever. the American people. I hope the time your view of serving in office is: Hey, Because Reagan once said, you can’t be for comes this week where we see some once I vote, I stick to it no matter big government, big bureaucracy and still be courageous Democrats stand—and let what the facts say, no matter how for the little guy. me say to any Democratic Senator who much people are hurting, no matter Boy, ain’t that the truth. does so, he or she will receive with- how big a disaster it is. I ain’t chang- Because I don’t want to pay more taxes to ering criticisms from the partisans in ing no matter what. fund it. your party.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.062 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6729 Now I will know, as someone not en- ObamaCare scorecard included 301 em- of employees working up to 39 hours a tirely unfamiliar with receiving with- ployers. week to less than 30. I am talking ering criticisms from one’s own party. In the State of Alabama, Houston about a real impact from this law. There are worse things in life. I prom- County cut the hours of part-time em- In Georgia, Georgia Military College ise you that it is, in the order of things ployees to less than 30 hours per week. cut the hours of adjunct faculty to to be worried about, quite low. You In California, Biola University cut below 30 hours per week. know I am a lot more concerned about student work hours to a maximum of In Illinois, Vcm Inc., the Subway a single mom working in a diner trying 25 per week and suspended the limit franchisee, reduced hours for hourly to feed her kids than I am about due to the employer mandate delay. wage earners to below 30 per week. whether some Senator or some con- That is interesting. They cut it, and In Indiana, Ball State University gressional staffer wants to run to a then when the employer mandate delay limited work hours for graduate assist- newspaper and say something mean kicked in, they suspended that. If you ants. about me. want to understand cause and effect, In New Jersey, Toms River will cut So any Democratic Senator who is look to the behavior, look to the suf- part-time hours to 25 hours per week, thinking about responding to the con- fering, look to the job losses that are effective July 2014. cerns that I know you are hearing from coming as a direct result of In North Carolina, Forsyth Commu- your citizens, because we are hearing it ObamaCare. nity Technical College reduced hours all over the country, let me suggest a In Florida, Bealls department stores for adjunct faculty to below 30 hours little bit of grief for breaking party restricted part-time hours to less than per week. Also in North Carolina, discipline is a small price to pay for 30 hours a week. Wilkes Community College reduced doing your job, for listening to the In Florida, SeaWorld Entertain- teaching loads for adjunct faculty to American people. ment—have any of you ever taken your below 30 hours a week. Let me say to the Republicans: There kids to SeaWorld? They cut hours for Let me go through a few of these is a lot of concern about political part-time workers from a maximum of that are much the same: blame. There is a lot of concern about: 32 hours to 28 hours a week. That is Texas, Consolidated Restaurant Op- If we would just get a symbolic vote so SeaWorld, which is a big employer. erations and Dave & Buster’s; Pennsyl- we can all say we are opposed to it, but In Illinois, Palmer Place Restaurant vania, Philadelphia University; Vir- let’s not actually do anything to cut hours for some workers below 30 ginia, K-VA-T Food Stores; Missouri, change ObamaCare. Let me suggest to hours a week. Three Rivers College. In Alabama, the my Republican friends that we should In Kansas, the Salina Family YMCA University of Alabama capped student worry a lot less about blame and credit cut part-time employee schedules to a work hours at 20 per week. That may, and politics and just worry about fix- maximum of 25 hours per week. in fact, be justifiable punishment for ing the darn thing for the American In New Jersey, Middletown Township their having beaten Texas A&M, but it people. Public Schools cut hours for para- is still not good for the students who If we get back to an economy where professionals to below 30 hours per would like to work more than 20 hours jobs are booming, where small busi- week. per week. Florida, Brevard County; nesses are thriving, where people who The great State of Texas—it actually Florida, Buca di Beppo restaurant are struggling and want the American doesn’t say ‘‘great State’’ on the list, chain; Florida, Hillsborough Commu- dream can get that first job and get but I view that as implied—Sam Hous- nity College; Florida, St. Petersburg that second job and climb that eco- ton State University limited student College; Georgia, Cherokee County nomic ladder and advance, provide for work hours to 29 per week, impacting School Board; Indiana, Hancock Coun- their families, that answers a whole lot multiple job holders. ty; Indiana, Morgan County; Michigan, of problems. In Michigan, Auburn Hills reduced Central Michigan University; New Jer- I have heard some partisan observers hours for part-time seasonal workers sey, NEMF trucking company; North say: ObamaCare is not the biggest job to less than 30 per week. Carolina, Henderson; Ohio, White Cas- killer in the country. No. 1, it is ironic In Pennsylvania, Friendship Commu- tle. We read a letter from White Castle that is the particular debate, about nity cut part-time hours to below 30 earlier today. They used to open eight whether it is the biggest job killer or per week. That, by the way, is a group new restaurants a year. They have re- the second biggest job killer. But let home for adults with disabilities. Not duced it to two. Think of all the people me tell you, I do not think there is any only are the folks at Friendship Com- who won’t get jobs because there is no debate on that question. munity working to help adults with White Castle over there, not to men- So let me point to a list by Investors disabilities, they are also getting their tion all of the hungry college kids who Business Daily of 300 cuts to work hours cut. That is their penalty for at 3 in the morning are just craving a hours or jobs. making a difference in their commu- White Castle and they can’t find one. Well, if you don’t believe ObamaCare nity. Oregon, Shari’s restaurants; Pennsyl- is the biggest job killer in the country, In Michigan, Meridian Public Schools vania, Carnegie Museum; Tennessee, look to the facts. This year report after cut schedules of hourly workers to less Oneida Special School District; Ten- report has rolled in about employers than 30 hours per week. nessee, Scott County School System; restricting work hours to less than 30 In Arizona, Arizona State University Tennessee, Stewart County School Sys- hours per week—the point where the limited course loads for nontenured as- tem; Texas, Jim’s Restaurant; Vir- mandate kicks in. The data also points sociate faculty members. ginia, Christopher Savvides Restaurant to record-low workweeks in low-wage In Maine, Mainesubway, the Subway & catering; Wisconsin, Minocqua- industries. It is low-wage industries in franchisee, reduced worker hours to no Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk School particular because the people who get more than 29 per week. District; Wisconsin, Trig’s Super- hammered by this are not the CEOs. It In New York, Finger Lakes Commu- markets; Alabama, University of North is not the rich. The rich have done just nity College capped course loads for ad- Alabama; California, Fatburger. Now fine under President Obama. It is hard- junct faculty. there is truth in advertising. Iowa, Lee working American families, the people In South Carolina, Tsunami Surf County; Michigan, Delta County; who are struggling. It is young people, Shops—I like that name; that is a surf Texas, Bee County; Idaho, Boundary Hispanics, African Americans, and sin- shop with an attitude—will limit work- County; North Carolina, Rutherford gle moms. They are the ones who are ers to less than 30 hours per week. County; Pennsylvania, Lawrence Coun- losing their jobs and being forced to In Illinois, Southern Illinois Univer- ty; Michigan, Kenowa Hills Public work 29 hours a week. sity limited graduate teaching assist- Schools; New Jersey, City of Bur- Investor’s Business Daily compiled a ants to 20 hours per week. lington Public Schools; Texas, the Lion list of job actions that provide strong In Indiana, Vincennes cut the hours & Rose British Restaurant and Pub; proof that ObamaCare’s employer man- of part-timers to 29 per week. Texas, MTC Inc. Restaurant Manage- date is behind cuts to work or staffing In California, the Mexican American ment; Utah, Millard School District; cuts. As of September 18, 2013, their Opportunity Foundation cut the hours Arkansas, Area Agency on Aging of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.063 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6730 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 Western Arkansas; Arkansas, Walmart ing their climb on the economic ladder. 100,000 miles and is wondering what Stores, Inc. Has anyone heard of them? If you don’t get that first job, you happens if they wake up one morning They increased temp share of work- don’t get the second, and you don’t get and turn the key and nothing happens? force to ‘‘fewer than 10 percent’’ from 1 the third. It impacts you for a long, If you have a good job, if you are to 2 percent before this year. Cali- long time. climbing the economic ladder, if you fornia, CKE Restaurants, Inc. Just recently, I read an article in the have career prospects, you can deal The list goes on and on. Wall Street Journal that I think is rel- with that. If you are stuck in a dead- Every one of those—and I read the evant for every young person to read end job and living paycheck to pay- first 50 or 75 out of 301—it is all over because it explains how ObamaCare is check, that is a huge problem. the country. It is every State. A lot of impacting you not just today but for ‘‘I’m kind of spinning my wheels,’’ Mr. folks in this body may say: Well, that decades to come. I think young people Wetherell says. ‘‘We can wishfully think that doesn’t impact us. What is the prob- have a particularly acute desire to see eventually it’s going to get better, but we lem? If you serve in the Senate, your this Senate act this week to defund don’t really know, and that doesn’t really salary is guaranteed no matter what. ObamaCare because it is young people help us now.’’ Besides, we are exempted from paying the price. Don’t take my word There are millions of Americans who ObamaCare. So what is the concern? for it, take the Wall Street Journal. On feel exactly like that. That is official Washington for you. September 1, 2013, the Wall Street had Mr. Wetherell is a member of the lost gen- What is the problem? Government is a a major article that was entitled eration, a group that is now only beginning boom business. If you look at the coun- ‘‘Wanted: Jobs for the New ’Lost’ Gen- to gain attention from many economists and ties surrounding Washington, DC, they eration.’’ If you are a young person, employment experts. are booming. Why? Because govern- you should feel excited: there is now a Young people should feel particularly ment is growing, growing, growing, and title for your generation—the ‘‘lost privileged that they have coined a new growing. generation.’’ I mentioned that if you term for their generation—the lost At every place I just read, there are were trying to design a law to hurt generation—because of ObamaCare and men and women working and almost young people, ObamaCare—you the policies of this administration. none of them are wealthy. Almost none couldn’t do better than that. Well, it From Oakland to Orlando—and across the of them are fat cats. Almost none of has produced a lost generation. ocean in Birmingham and Barcelona—young them are, as the President likes to in- Here is what the Wall Street Journal people have come of age amid the most pro- voke so often, millionaires and billion- said: longed period of economic distress since the Great Depression. aires. They are 22-year-old kids, some Like so many young Americans, Derek Most, like Mr. Wetherell, have little mem- who are recent college graduates and Wetherell is stuck. At 23 years old, he has a ory of the financial crisis itself, which some who dropped out of high school, job, but not a career, and little prospect for struck while they were still in high school. but they are trying to work. They advancement. He has tens of thousands of But they are all too familiar with its after- would like to make a better life. They dollars in student debt— math: the crippling recession, which made it are not able to do so. They are not able I know what student debt is like. It all but impossible for many young people to to do so because of ObamaCare. was only 2 years ago that I paid off my get a first foothold in the job market, and Every one of those names—and lis- student debt. I had to take out student the achingly slow recovery that has left the tening to those names, it would be easy debt to pay my way through college prosperity of their parents’ generation out of reach—perhaps permanently. to zone out: Oh, another name, another and law school. There are a lot of ″This has been for quite a while now a hos- name; those are just empty names. young people right now struggling to tile environment for young people,’’ said Every one of those names—there are pay off student debt. I will tell you, if Paul Taylor, executive vice president of the men, women, and their kids who are you combine student debt with a dead- Pew Research Center, which has studied the suffering because of that. If you have a end job or not being able to find a job impact of the recession on young people. job, working hard, trying to provide for at all, that is a recipe for a lost genera- ‘‘This is all they’ve really known.’’ your family, and you are told: Con- tion. The financial crisis that struck five years Continuing with Derek Wetherell: ago this month opened up a sinkhole in the gratulations; you will be working 29 U.S. economy that swallowed Americans of hours a week courtesy of the Senate He has tens of thousands of dollars in stu- all ages and backgrounds. Retirees lost life and ObamaCare—talk about a failed dent debt, but no college degree. savings. Families lost homes. Millions of law. That is becoming more and more Americans lost their jobs. Five years later, In the last election, young people common. People take out loans to get that hole is being filled in, however slowly. voted overwhelmingly for the reelec- a college degree, but they are not fin- The unemployment rate is down to 7.3 per- tion of the President. Indeed, some of ishing. They are not able to finish. cent amid slow, steady job growth. my friends on the Democratic side of He says he is more likely to move back in Although, as we noted earlier, that the aisle believe that a new dawn has with his parents than to buy a home— 7.3 percent vastly understates it, be- arrived, that young people will remain The American dream used to be that cause so many have given up looking permanently Democrats and thus keep everyone wanted to buy their own for work altogether. a Democratic majority in the Senate home, have a white picket fence, have The stock market has rallied to new highs. for time immemorial. I am not con- a swing out front on which your kids Home prices are rebounding. Total output vinced of that. could play. That was our parents’ has surpassed its prerecession peak. But the recovery has left many young peo- I will say it is interesting—you could dreams. That was their parents’ not design a law to do more damage to ple behind. The official unemployment rate dreams. That has been the American for Americans under age 25 was 15.6 percent young people than ObamaCare if you dream for generations. I ask young in August, down from a peak of nearly 20 sat down and tried. If you sat down and people, how many of you feel that percent in 2010 but still more than 21⁄2 times said: Let’s really pound the living day- dream is a realistic prospect for you? It the rate of those 25 and older—a gap that has lights out of young people, you was for your parents when they were widened during the recovery. couldn’t do it. your age. Let me tell you, the policies In other words, it has gotten worse We will talk later tonight about pre- this Congress has put in place because for young people during the past few miums that are going up, especially for we are not listening to the American years. young people, because one way to un- people are a direct cause of that. Moreover, the unemployment rate ignores derstand ObamaCare is it is a massive ObamaCare is a direct cause of that. the hundreds of thousands of young people wealth transfer from young healthy Mr. Wetherell continues: who have taken shelter from the weak job people to everyone else. If you are market by going to college, enrolling in He says he is more likely to move back in training programs or otherwise sitting on young and healthy, Congress looked at with his parents than to buy a home, and he the sidelines. you, licked their chops, and said: You doesn’t know what he will do if his car—a are for dinner. Not only that, the peo- 2001 Chrysler Sebring with well over 100,000 Do any of you know anyone—do any ple who are getting their hours forcibly miles—breaks down. of you, right now, know anyone doing reduced are overwhelmingly young Is there anyone else in America who that—going to school because, gosh, people. They are people who are start- has a car that is 12 years old with jobs are so lousy, maybe, you think,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.064 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6731 you will try to do something at school and the result has been young people people for decades to come. This is an and maybe things will get better? If could get jobs, full-time jobs that ad- urgency that should have this Senate ObamaCare keeps hammering small vance towards a career and towards the floor packed. businesses so they do not hire new American Dream. You know what. A lot of men and workers and they keep reducing hours, The economic legacy of the Great Depres- women in this body have kids who are the prospects for things getting better sion was erased to a large degree by World in that generation. And we should be are not very bright. War II and the boom that followed. No simi- horrified, we should be outraged that lar rebound looks likely this time around. Even those lucky enough to be employed the future of our young people is jeop- are often struggling. Little more than half What a crying shame. Wouldn’t it be ardized. are working full time—compared with about nice if this week we forced them to Mr. Wetherell, the son of an electrician, 80 percent of the population at large—and 12 change that sentence. Suppose this grew up in Imperial, MO, a very small town percent earn minimum wage or less. week Washington, DC, changed. Sup- south of St. Louis, where job opportunities Let me repeat that. For young people pose this week Senators in this body— were limited even when the economy was who are working, little more than half Republicans and Democrats—decided strong, and it wasn’t when he graduated are working full time. If you are a we are going to do something we from high school in 2008. He enrolled at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, juggled a young person, if you are hoping to haven’t done in a long time. We are full course load, had a full-time job at a local start a career, being forced into a part- going to listen to the people. The grocery store, and tracked his near-constant time job because of ObamaCare is a big American people say their top priority commitments on a dry-erase board in his problem. is jobs and the economy. Suppose Mem- room. The median weekly wage for young work- bers of the Senate said: Hot diggity, Eventually, the schedule wore him down. ers has fallen more than 5 percent since 2007, our top priority is jobs and the econ- He withdrew from school in 2011, though he after adjusting for inflation; for those 25 and omy. Suppose Members of the Senate says he still plans to complete his degree. He older, wages have stayed roughly flat. owes $27,000 in student debt—roughly his an- came together, and Republicans said nual pretax earnings—with three semesters It is getting worse for young people. we are going to stand together on clo- still to go. It is young people who are really get- ture. On the vote on Friday or Satur- Mr. Wetherell is better off than many of ting hit by this. Let me ask young peo- day, all 46 of us are going to vote his peers. He works at Schnucks, a locally ple: What urgency do you see in the against cloture because ObamaCare is owned supermarket chain where he is a Senate? Is the floor of the Senate filled killing jobs. It is the biggest job killer union member— And, by the way, that is one of the with Senators saying there is a crisis and it is hurting the American people. reasons why so many unions that have with young people; let’s step forward And suppose Democrats said: You supported ObamaCare are turning on it and help them get jobs? Nope. Senators know, even though we supported now— have very busy calendars. There are ObamaCare, we have seen how it is im- cocktail parties to go to. Responding plemented, it is not working, it is a receives health benefits and is paid $12.65 an hour. That is enough to cover $400 monthly to the crisis that young people are fac- train wreck, the American people are rent and $200 in student loan payments. But ing is not high on the priority of hurting, and we are going to respond. it leaves little left over for an emergency enough Members of this Senate because We are going to respond to young peo- fund, let alone retirement savings. Washington isn’t listening to the peo- ple—the young people, by the way, on How many young people right now ple. That is why the hashtag is Twitter and in social media we are are able to save for retirement? That is trending: ‘‘MakeDCListen.’’ Because reaching out to all the time. something else that will echo for dec- we need to make DC listen. You know, lots of politics is very in- ades. Savings when you are young are This generation’s struggles have few his- teresting, but nothing is better for a most important for retirement because torical precedents, at least in the U.S. young person than a growing economy through compounding interest they You all should feel excited. You have and an opportunity to have a job to can grow over the years. made history, although, unfortunately, work to achieve the American Dream. ‘‘It’s kind of unsettling not being able to not for a good reason, because the gov- Yet the Wall Street Journal says no put anything away,’’ says Mr. Wetherell, a ernment has put policies in place that similar rebound looks likely this time political science major. have so hammered small businesses around. I tell you what. If we act in an Even more unsettling: Wetherell has no- that they have created a job market historic show of courage to defund ticed that more and more of his coworkers that makes life incredibly difficult for ObamaCare, that will change. have college degrees, some from well-re- garded colleges like Washington University. What evidence does exist suggests today’s young people. What he had intended as a job to help pay his young people will suffer long-term con- The recession of the early 1980s was com- way through college has now turned into a sequences. parable but was followed by a rapid recovery. destination for college graduates. ‘‘I think a Well, gosh, what happened in the Now, this is important. You say may: lot about whether I’m ahead or behind,’’ he early 1980s? President Ronald Reagan Well, the job I have now is not great, says. ‘‘I really hope I’m not ahead.’’ was elected. He implemented policies but it will be fine in a few years. Here What does that say when what used the exact opposite of this administra- is part of the problem. When young to be a part-time job that would help tion’s policies. Instead of jacking up people are stuck in dead-end jobs, if people pay their way through school taxes by $1.7 trillion, as this Congress they don’t get opportunity now, it becomes a destination for college grad- and this President has done, President echoes throughout that generation for uates? Reagan slashed taxes and simplified decades. You know, my dad worked his way the Tax Code. Instead of exploding gov- One recent study by Yale University econ- through the University of Texas as a ernment spending and the debt, Presi- omist Lisa Kahn found that after the 1980s dishwasher and then as a cook. That dent Reagan restrained the growth of recession, new college graduates lost 6 to 7 job is what let him get the education. percent in initial wages for every one per- How much different would it have been government spending. And instead of centage point increase in the unemployment unleashing regulators like locusts that rate. The effects shrank over time, but even if, after he had gotten his degree, he destroy small businesses, President 15 years after graduation, those who finished had shown up and they had said: Let’s Reagan restrained regulation and the college in bad economic times earned less start washing dishes. result was incredible growth. than similar people who graduated in better Americans aren’t the only ones asking For young people who have never times. Some never caught up at all. such questions. known anything other than these abys- So this stagnant economic growth, if I’m going to pause in this article be- mal economic conditions, there is an- you are a young person, I am sorry to cause it is 8 o’clock right now, and I other way. Every time we have imple- tell you, it is not just a problem now. mentioned before that Heidi and I are mented pro free-enterprise policies of If you don’t see the Senate finally lis- blessed to have two little girls, Caro- restraining taxes, restraining regula- tening to the American people, finally line and Catherine. Caroline is 5 and tion, reining in out-of-control govern- working to bring back economic Catherine is 2. I love my daughters ment spending and debt, the result has growth, the stagnant economic oppor- with all my heart. They are the joys of been small businesses have prospered tunities we have right now are likely my life. I will tell you the hardest as- and thrived. They have created jobs, to haunt the lost generation of young pect of public service is not someone

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.066 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 saying something mean about you—the If you try to be kind and good, you will be I would not, could not, in the dark. press. The hardest aspect of public blessed with life and goodness and honor. Would you, could you, in the rain? service is being away from those little So that is the first story for Caroline I would not, could not, in the rain. precious angels and coming up here to and Catherine. Not in the dark. Not on a train. Not in a car. Not in a tree. DC. I tell you, it breaks your heart on The second one is what they know is my favorite story. It was my favorite I do not like them, Sam, you see. Monday morning when I walk out of Not in a house. Not in a box. the house and one girl grabs one leg story when I was a kid and it is a story Not with a mouse. Not with a fox. and one girl grabs the other and they I love reading to them. I actually don’t I will not eat them here or there. say: Don’t leave, Dad. get to read it to them often because we I do not like them anywhere! Well, right now, Caroline and Cath- have a rule at home that they get to You do not like green eggs and ham? erine are both at home getting ready to pick the books. For whatever reason, I do not like them, Sam-I-am. go to bed, and they have both turned they don’t pick Dr. Seuss’s ‘‘Green Could you, would you, with a goat? Eggs and Ham’’ all that often. I don’t I would not, could not, with a goat! on the television. They are both watch- Would you, could you, on a boat? ing C–SPAN. Now I’m going to confess get to read it that often because I tell them, Go pick the books you want to I could not, would not, on a boat. that Caroline and Catherine don’t usu- I will not, will not, with a goat. ally watch C–SPAN since there are far read, and I read to them. But since to- I will not eat them in the rain. too few animated features on C–SPAN. night, girls, you aren’t here, you don’t I will not eat them on a train. But because the girls are watching, and get to pick the book, so I got to pick Not in the dark! Not in a tree! my wife Heidi is watching with them, I ‘‘Green Eggs and Ham.’’ I love this Not in a car! You let them be! wanted to take an opportunity—an op- story, so I am going to read it to you. I do not like them in a box. Sam I Am. I do not like them with a fox. portunity I don’t usually have when I I will not eat them in a house. am in DC—to read them a couple of That Sam-I-am! That Sam-I-am! I do not like them with a mouse. bedtime stories. They are watching I do not like that Sam-I-am! I do not like them here or there. right now, and if you will forgive me, I Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them ANYWHERE! want to take the opportunity to read I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not like green eggs and ham! two bedtime stories to my girls. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. But there is a point to this also. The Would you like them here or there? You do not like them. point is very simple: The urgency we I would not like them here or there. So you say. have and should feel is because of our I would not like them anywhere. Try them! Try them! I do not like green eggs and ham. And you may. kids. It is because of the future they Try them and you may, I say. are facing. It is because of the limited I do not like them, Sam-I-am. Would you like them in a house? Sam! opportunities they have. Would you like them with a mouse? If you will let me be, I wish to read first to Caroline and I do not like them in a house. I will try them. Catherine Bible stories from the Old I do not like them with a mouse. You will see. and New Testaments. We often read I do not like them here or there. And on this page he is simply holding similar stories at home. This one is en- I do not like them anywhere. green eggs and ham on a fork preparing titled ‘‘King Solomon’s Wise Words.’’ It I do not like green eggs and ham. to bite them. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. is from Proverbs 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20, Say! Would you eat them in a box? and 21. I like green eggs and ham! Would you eat them with a fox? I do! I like them, Sam-I-am! So, Caroline and Catherine: Not in a box. And I would eat them in a boat. King Solomon had good advice for how peo- Not with a fox. And I would eat them with a goat . . . ple could live a good life and be happy. Here Not in a house. And I will eat them in the rain. are some of his wise sayings: Not with a mouse. And in the dark. And on a train. Children with good sense make their par- I would not eat them here or there. And in a car. And in a tree. ents happy, but foolish children make them I would not eat them anywhere. They are so good, so good, you see! sad. I would not eat green eggs and ham. So I will eat them in a box. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. Sweetheart, you make your mommy And I will eat them with a fox. Would you? Could you? and me very happy. And I will eat them in a house. In a car? You will say the wrong thing if you talk And I will eat them with a mouse. Eat them! Eat them! too much, so be sensible and watch what you And I will eat them here and there. Here they are. say. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE! I would not, could not, in a car. I do so like I will have to confess to my col- You may like them. green eggs and ham! leagues, that is not an encouraging You will see. Thank you! Proverb for someone in the midst of a You may like them in a tree! Thank you, I would not, could not, in a tree. filibuster. Sam-I-am! Not in a car! You let me be. Kindness is rewarded—but if you are cruel, I want to say to Caroline and Cath- you hurt yourself. I do not like them in a box. Try hard to do right, and you will win I do not like them with a fox. erine, my angels, I love you with all friends; go looking for trouble, and you will I do not like them in a house. my heart. It is bedtime. Give Mommy a find it. I do not like them with a mouse. hug and a kiss, brush your teeth, say Good people are kind to their animals, but I do not like them here or there. your prayers, and Daddy is going to be a mean person is cruel. I do not like them anywhere. home soon to read to you in person. We trap ourselves by telling lies, but we I do not like green eggs and ham. Let me say more broadly to every- stay out of trouble by living right. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. one, ‘‘Green Eggs and Ham’’ has some It’s wrong to hate others, but God blesses A train! A train! applicability, as curious as it might everyone who is kind to the poor. A train! A train! sound, to ObamaCare, because 31⁄2 years Kind words are like honey—they cheer you Could you, would you, on a train? up and make you feel strong. Not on a train! Not in a tree! ago President Obama and Senate Don’t trust violent people. They will mis- Not in a car! Sam, let me be! Democrats told the American people, lead you to do the wrong thing. I would not, could not, in a box. Just try ObamaCare. Just try it. There Even fools seem smart when they are I could not, would not, with a fox. were an awful lot of Republicans who quiet. I will not eat them with a mouse. were very skeptical of it, I think for I suppose that may counteract the I will not eat them in a house. good reasons, but very skeptical. And other one. I will not eat them here or there. we were told try it, try it, try it, try it. I will not eat them anywhere. Unfortunately, through an exercise of Good people live right, and God blesses the I do not like green eggs and ham. children who follow their example. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. brute political force, ObamaCare be- Hearing and seeing are gifts from the Lord. Say! came the law of the land. The food you get by cheating may taste de- In the dark? But the difference with ‘‘Green Eggs licious, but it turns to gravel. Here in the dark! and Ham’’ is when Americans tried it, And, Would you, could you, in the dark? they discovered they did not like green

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.067 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6733 eggs and ham and they did not like a CR, so that we have to go through thank him also for his early support of ObamaCare either. They did not like this exercise again probably when we this fight to defund ObamaCare. When ObamaCare in a box, with a fox, in a would like to be home at Christmas Senator MIKE LEE and I began this en- house, or with a mouse. It is not work- personally reading those stories to deavor, Senator ENZI was with us from ing. kids? I would like to be reading to my the start. I am grateful for his support One of the oldest definitions of insan- grandkids. and for his leadership. ity is continuing to do the same thing We have been kind of put in a box I note his question is exactly right. over and over expecting different re- here that the American public doesn’t We would not be in this mess were it sults. I understand why many sup- like, I don’t like, but it wasn’t our not for the failure of the Senate, the ported ObamaCare in the beginning. doing. failure of the Senate to do its job, the But if you look at the facts, if you look If those bills would have been failure of the Senate to have open de- at the evidence, if you look at what is brought up one at a time, we could bate, to have open amendments, the happening when the American people have debated each of them and gotten failure of the Senate to actually pass have tried it, it is not working. And if into some details on them. It has been appropriations bills. we listen to the people—if we listen to a long time since we got into details on Continuing resolutions exist because the American people, every one of us trillions of dollars of spending. Health Congress has fallen down on the job. will stand together and say, We are care is a part of that, and health care Congress has not actually passed ap- going to stop this train wreck. To- deserves some individual attention. propriations bills into law. One of the gether, we need to make DC listen. That is what the Senator and I and a things the continuing resolution bill Mr. ENZI. Through the Chair, would number of people are trying to give it, does—a continuing resolution basically the Senator yield for a question, re- some individual attention. But we are says let’s keep everything going be- taining the floor? being denied that right. We are not cause we have not actually passed the Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a being allowed to go into it in detail so appropriations bills that would prop- question without yielding the floor. we can show exactly which parts we erly make the funding decisions on the Mr. ENZI. I want to thank the Sen- would defund, which parts we would various agencies of government. But a ator for the recitation of ‘‘Green Eggs dismantle and replace with something continuing resolution enables those and Ham.’’ That is as good as I have better. who want to keep funding ObamaCare heard. I loved the different voices in it. I spent a lot of time on this bill be- to try to hold everything hostage to it. One of my favorites was ‘‘Hand, Hand, cause I was here when it was going For example, you hear some in the Finger, Thumb’’ by Dr. Seuss. And an- through the committee process. In Democratic majority suggesting—they other one was ‘‘Hop on Pop.’’ I think fact, I had a 10-step plan on my Web often run through a parade of all of those could have related to the site that would have done more than horribles. If there is a government messages here. They might even be this bill and it would have been paid shutdown, if the continuing resolution simple enough that we could get the for. But that isn’t a part of the bill. doesn’t pass, here are all of the hor- message across. When they say the Republicans don’t rible things that will happen. I appreciate all the passion and prep- have solutions, they are not willing to Some of the parade of horribles that aration the Senator has put into ex- look at any of the solutions even if are suggested are contrary to law. For plaining this and his careful way with they would wind up in a better situa- example, they will sometimes suggest words. tion. people will not get their Social Secu- We are on a continuing resolution, This was passed with a partisan gov- rity payment or they will not get their and I don’t know that people out there ernment. It is a health care that is fail- Medicare or they won’t get their Med- understand what continuing resolution ing and we are not getting a chance to icaid or we won’t pay interest on the is. It means that we failed to do our job change it. Of course, I am one of those debt. That is not the way the Govern- on time—that we should have had 12 who would have liked to have repealed ment works. All of those are paid appropriations bills, one at a time, and it and started over again and gotten it through mandatory spending. The con- been able to go through them with right. tinuing resolution does not impact some care. I know of another substitute bill that those continuing to happen. I note in I think maybe the Senator would Senator COBURN and Senator BURR did, 1995 when there were two partial tem- agree that perhaps if we had done that, and that would have been a better re- porary shutdowns, Social Security when we got to Health and Human placement too. It would have covered checks continued to go out, the inter- Services we might have had the issue more of the things the President, in a est on the debt continued to be paid. on the individual items of defunding joint session of Congress when he cov- All that continued. ObamaCare. Had we had those indi- ered it—I was on a committee that was Another thing those who are trying vidual ones, I think some of those working on it particularly, and I sat to force ObamaCare on the American would have passed and it wouldn’t have there and took extensive notes. The people frequently want to hold hostage had to have been an all-or-nothing as next day in our meeting I said, There is the men and women in the military. we have now. are 14 things that he said in that My friend from Wyoming noted if we Would the Senator agree that doing speech we did not cover and I think we passed appropriations bills that would it this way, particularly if we have no should have covered them. not be a problem. The House has passed debate and no amendments, would be Instead, we wound up with the bill we an appropriations bill for the military. the wrong way, and that all we are have because there were 60 Democrats Yet the majority leader, HARRY REID, doing is delaying some more decisions and that is all it took to pass the bill. the Democratic majority, had not a little further down the road that They had to make a few deals in order taken that bill up. If we had passed it again should have been covered by ap- to get the 60 to stick together, and it is into law you could quantify the propriations in a very timely manner? surprising they did stick together. chances of the men and women in the Isn’t that the same problem we had I will end on that question. I have military having their pay suspended to with sequester, where we went through one other I would like to ask too. But mathematical certainty to 0.000 per- two-thirds of the year when there was I think our failure to do appropriations cent. If we passed the appropriations supposed to be a 2.3-percent sequester, leads us to this point, and also gets us bill, the issue would be off the table. so we only had 4 months left and those to a point where we can’t go into the But the Senate did not do its job; we agencies had to pack it into the 4 details of the bill. We have to take an did not pass the appropriations bill for months, and that made it 5.3 percent all-or-nothing approach. That is not the military. and that hurt worse? Of course, the legislating. That is deal-making. I That leaves a tiny window for the President’s note to everybody to think we have an alternate approach President to threaten. If Congress lis- ‘‘make it hurt’’ was not particularly and I would like the Senator to com- tens to the American people and helpful either. ment on it. defunds ObamaCare, we may just stop But aren’t we faced again with that Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from paying the men and women of the mili- when we are doing a 2-month delay on Wyoming for that very good question. I tary. Let me be absolutely clear. Under

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.070 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6734 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 no circumstances ever should the Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask per- bill. I mean, why wouldn’t the Presi- United States not pay the men and mission to ask another question dent want to come under it? After all, women of our military who risk their through the Chair, with the Senator it is called ObamaCare. It is named lives on the front lines. Current law being allowed to keep the floor. after him. gives the President ample authority to Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a Apparently there is a tremendous de- continue to pay the military regardless question without yielding the floor. sire not to do that, to explain that the of whether there is a temporary partial Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, would the Federal Government is different. That shutdown. Senator agree that there are a number is exactly what the American people What has happened in the past, if and of things in this bill that have been are upset about, that we are different. when there has been a temporary par- changed because we have recognized We should not be different. That is one tial shutdown, is nonessential govern- that those things would not work? We of the things that could have been ment services are temporarily sus- have changed—not we, the President taken care of if we had taken this all pended. By any measure, the military has changed a number of these things. through regular order. of the United States is not non- I am having trouble finding in the law I appreciate efforts of the Senator to essential. So if we had done our job, as where those changes come from. There be able to do something. I ask if the the Senator from Wyoming puts that is not a lot of waiver authority in the Senator believes we ought to be ex- forward, if we had passed appropria- bill, but every time a difficulty is empted under any parts of this law or tions bills, we would have taken off the found with the bill, then there appears if these exemptions would be legal for table one after the other after the to be a waiver so that particular part the President to do if it is not written other of these hostages that are being of the bill no longer exists. in the law? As a lawyer, my colleague held as the price to force ObamaCare I have never seen that done before on probably has better insight into that on the American people. legislation. How do they take a piece of than I do—and a constitutionalist. Part of the reason why the Demo- the law that is in the bill, that does not That is why I ask the question. Does cratic majority of the Senate does that have a waiver right, and go ahead and the President have the right to do is because the debate on the merits of exempt us under that particular part of that? Mr. CRUZ. I thank my colleague for ObamaCare is very hard to win. You the law? One particular part of that I that very good question. The simple notice we are, by and large, not engag- am particularly sensitive on because I answer is no, the President does not ing in a debate on the merits of worked on it very diligently. As the have the authority to rewrite the law ObamaCare, in terms of defunding bill came through committee, that or alter the law. We operate under a ObamaCare. You don’t see Democratic piece was the one where Congress principle that no one is above the law. Senators talking about all the people should be under the law that we passed, We are a nation of laws and not of men. who are losing their jobs, you don’t see Congress and the staff. There are many disturbing aspects of Democratic Senators talking about all That got remodeled, as you will re- ObamaCare, but one of the persistent those people having their hours re- call, a little bit so that the committee ones is this law has been such a train staffs did not have to come under it be- duced or all the people seeing sky- wreck that the approach of the Presi- cause the committee staffs were actu- rocketing health insurance premiums, dent has been, over and over, simply to ally going to finish up the bill. But we or who are losing their health insur- disregard the language of the law, to had intended for all of our staffs to be ance. Instead, we see Democratic Sen- pretend as if the law of the United under that bill. ators going on television and saying: States does not exist because as passed Would the Senator agree that one of Well, if they stick to their guns on it was such a bad law. The way that is the amendments that we have not been this, it is going to shut down the gov- manifested, as my friend from Wyo- able to vote on—it would have only ernment. ming pointed out so accurately, is to taken 30 minutes to do a 15-minute The Senator from Wyoming points grant exemptions to politically favored vote. That is kind of standard around out there is no reason for that. We classes. could have passed the appropriations here; it takes us a little longer to do a It started out with big business. bill or we could do what the House of 15-minute vote. Heck, it takes us 20 Giant corporations were all, with the Representatives did. The House of Rep- minutes to do a 10-minute vote and wave of a pen, told don’t worry about resentatives, in an overwhelming vote, that has to follow on the heels of a 30- ObamaCare. It is supposed to kick in 232 Members, including 2 Democrats, minute 15-minute vote. for you January 1 of next year, but the voted to fund every aspect of the Fed- We could have had that vote, but we President has decided he is going to do eral Government—including, I note, were not allowed to. What that amend- a favor for big businesses that he will some parts of the Federal Government ment is, as you will recall, what it not do for small businesses, that he that I am certain House Republicans would have done is put Congress back will not do for hard-working American are not fans of—yet they voted to fund under the bill. It would have subjected families. all of it except for ObamaCare. Congress to suffering the same exact The next significant waiver we saw I know my friend Congressman LOUIE thing the American public is going to was for Members of Congress. It oc- GOHMERT has come over to the Senate start experiencing on Tuesday as they curred after a closed-door meeting here floor in a show of solidarity. I appre- go into the exchange or at the very lat- in the Capitol where majority leader ciate Congressman GOHMERT joining est by the 1st of January when they are HARRY REID and all the Senate Demo- us. required to do that. crats, according to the public reports, I note if the Senate wants to avoid a If their company is no longer pro- came to the President and said: We shutdown, it can do so. Indeed, last viding them with insurance, the com- want out of the ObamaCare exchanges. night I took the opportunity to ask the pany will pay a little penalty but they As my friend from Wyoming pointed majority leader, Why don’t we avert get to come under the exchange. But out, if the ObamaCare exchanges were this whole train wreck right now? Why they do not get to bring the company’s a good thing, if ObamaCare was work- don’t we agree by unanimous consent tax-free donation to their health care ing, why would there be panic among to pass the continuing resolution the along with them. But that is the way Senate Democrats saying please ex- House has passed, take the prospect of we had envisioned it working for Con- empt Members of Congress? Why would a shutdown off the table entirely, and gress too. They would not get a special there be panic among congressional defund ObamaCare because it is hurt- dispensation. So we brought up this staffers, as I can assure you there is, in ing the American people? Majority amendment which would require that a bipartisan way, about being subjected Leader REID objected and said no. No, not only would Congress come under it, to these ObamaCare exchanges? Why he wants to keep ObamaCare, he wants but since the President is the one who would there be such opposition to sub- to force it on the American people. exempted this and did not have the jecting the political appointees of the Critically, he wants to use the threat right to exempt this from it, we Obama administration to the of a government shutdown to try to do thought perhaps he and the Vice Presi- ObamaCare exchanges or, as my friend so. That, I suggest, is inconsistent with dent and the political appointees from Wyoming pointed out so cor- the obligation that every Senator has. maybe ought to come under that same rectly, the President himself?

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.071 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6735 It is, after all, called popularly Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a Senator from Texas has met Scott Pru- ObamaCare. Even the President has question without yielding the floor. itt. Before we voted on this issue, we embraced that name. You would think, Mr. INHOFE. A lot of people have had a question on whether some of I suspect, if there were a health care forgotten the cost of this. I would like these subsidies would go any further. plan called EnziCare, the Senator from to go over a couple of things if it is all Scott Pruitt, through the courts, filed Wyoming would be happy to be covered right with the Senator. First, I wonder a lawsuit and is leading the charge to by it and he would probably be very if the same thing is happening in his dismantle ObamaCare and put an end careful to draft a plan that he would be State—which is to the south of Okla- to it. willing and excited to be covered by. homa—of Texas that is happening in Last month the judge overseeing the What does it say that the people in my State of Oklahoma. We are just a lawsuit ruled against a motion filed by charge of enforcing ObamaCare on the week away from when people will have the Obama administration to dismiss American people want out? They want to start signing up for ObamaCare. I the case, which means the case will a special rule. The IRS employee commend Senator CRUZ for reminding proceed. That is huge. If this goes unions, the men and women who are the American people that this law through, this whole thing will be dis- given the statutory responsibility of doesn’t have to be a new reality. It mantled. That is why we need to go going to Americans, going to hard- doesn’t have to be that way. We can ahead and fight this as best we can, working Americans and forcing Ameri- stop it. There are still lingering ques- recognizing that there are other areas cans to comply with ObamaCare, have tions about exactly what this is all where the American people are speak- said in writing: Please, let us out of going to look like. ing. Certainly Scott Pruitt is doing ObamaCare. We don’t want to be a part We do know this reform law, as they great things. of this thing. This is our health care call it, continues to be expensive and I heard the Senator mention Con- you are talking about. overreaching. When it started out, it gressman LOUIE GOHMERT. Congress- The most profound issue we are deal- didn’t sound too bad to the American man GOHMERT is a very close friend of ing with here today is not jobs, it is people. It is estimated that the pro- mine. We have been together on a lot of not the economy, it is not health care, gram will now cost as much as $2.4 tril- things. I was visiting with him. He is in it is not ObamaCare. The most pro- lion over the years. the Chamber right now and would like found issue we are dealing with here As I have suggested to my friend to share some of the things that are today is the fundamental divide be- from Texas, around here we know what happening in his district, which is east- tween Washington and American peo- $1 trillion is, but most people don’t ern Texas. ple. There is a ruling class in Wash- know what that means. It is hard to These are some of the letters that he ington, DC; that they are subjected to understand this as far as what is going gets from constituents. This says: different rules than the American peo- on in America. It will cost $2.6 trillion To get setup on the software was too ex- ple; that it is perfectly appropriate for over 10 years once this is fully imple- pensive. She also didn’t want to be limited political friends and allies of the Presi- mented, assuming they are successful on the time she felt she needed to spend with dent to get exemptions while single in doing it. The cost estimates have her patients. Therefore, she stopped taking moms and young people and Hispanics only continued to rise since the law Medicare. Had to go on strictly cash basis. and African Americans, people strug- was passed. This text says: gling, union workers struggling to pay Most recently the administration My wife’s doctor has just retired because the bills, provide for their kids—they asked for another $5.4 billion in discre- he did not want to deal with ObamaCare. don’t get an exemption. Just those who tionary funds next year for implemen- This is a letter that came from some- walk the corridors of power. Just those tation. That is $5.4 billion in discre- one whose name is Katy Smith. She with access to political influence. tionary funds. Let’s stop and think goes through quite a bit, and then says: You know what that does? It about that. One of the worst things about the Obama administration—and The explanation from IBM was that they strengthens politicians even more. ‘‘projected that health care costs under the Look, politicians are in the business of the Senator from Texas understands current IBM Medicare-eligible retiree plan granting dispensations, granting excep- this since he is on the Senate Armed options will nearly triple by 2020.’’ tions. That means everybody in the Services Committee—is how this Presi- This is another letter from Riverside country who wants some exception bet- dent has been disarming America. The Cottages. I guess that is someplace in ter come to politicians and support discretionary money that would be eastern Texas. them. coming out of this is money that other- wise could be used for our systems and We were notified July 15, 2013 that my hus- If you want to talk about something band’s insurance coverage, Blue Cross and corrosive to our system of democracy, to support our warfighters over there. Blue Shield of Montana/Montana Com- why do you think the American people That is just the cost of the Federal prehensive Health Association will termi- hold this body in low regard? Because Government. It doesn’t include the lost nate December 31, 2013. When my husband we pass laws that treat us better than hours, wages, and employees who have contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield, they told everybody else. Tonight we are listen- lost their jobs and the cost it will be to him that this policy will no longer exist due ing to the American people. We need to their families. to Obama Care. He will need to find new cov- make DC listen. Everyone agrees the premiums will erage. By the way, I have been told that rise. In my home State of Oklahoma we And it goes on and on. during the course of this filibuster, the have a guy named John Doak. After The interesting thing—and the rea- ‘‘#MakeDCListen’’ has at times been talking to the insurance companies, he son I am reading Texas letters right trending No. 1 in the country. said Oklahomans’ insurance will in- now—is that we receive a lot of them, I say to my colleagues who have crease by a minimum of 30 percent and and they are up in my office someplace. come to the floor in support of this ef- up to 100 percent. He also said that one So this hits home and hits home hard. fort that it is because the American in four insurers in Oklahoma will have I ask my friend from Texas if he has people understand and are frustrated as their rates vary from $143 a month for received a lot of these anecdotal letters to why Washington doesn’t listen to a 30-year-old with basic coverage to from people who are suffering serious them, and for at least a brief moment $673 a month for a 64-year-old who hardships and are now anticipating each of us together—the Senator from wants the best coverage. what will happen when this becomes a Wyoming and the Senator from Okla- Remember, the President promised reality? homa—are trying to serve as a voice to lower the premiums by $2,500. What Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from for the American people who don’t I want to do, if I could, is share a little Oklahoma for his excellent question. often have a voice in Washington. We bit of good news. I know the Senator Let me say from the outset that I am need to make DC listen. There is noth- from Texas is aware of it, but I don’t grateful for Senator INHOFE’s leader- ing more important we can do than know how many other people are aware ship and his courage. From the outset that. of this. We have a great attorney gen- Senator INHOFE has been with me on Mr. INHOFE. Will the Senator yield eral in the State of Oklahoma whose this fight, fighting to defund for a question? name is Scott Pruitt. I suspect the ObamaCare.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.072 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6736 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 I want to also note that Senator That kind of relates to what is hap- the only thing that matters is the per- INHOFE, like some of the other Sen- pening today. I was on that plane going sonalities bickering back and forth. In ators who have come to the floor of the through Chicago to Tulsa, and I picked many ways, that is not surprising, be- Senate this afternoon—including Sen- up the Wall Street Journal, and there cause if one is trying to defend a law ator ROBERTS, Senator SESSIONS, and was a full-page ad by the AMA sup- that the lead author calls a train Senator ENZI—are respected veterans porting Hillary health care. Of course, wreck, that the unions who supported of this institution. They are leaders when I stopped in Chicago, I went and it are desperately trying to get out who have earned the respect of their visited the AMA. This is an organiza- from under, that you and your Demo- colleagues. tion that represents a lot of real smart cratic Senate colleagues are des- I am grateful for Senator INHOFE doctors and others who were saying perately asking for yourselves to be ex- being willing to stand up and be a lead- that we can’t win. We can’t win this empted from it, then you sure as heck er in this fight. That courage is con- and therefore let’s go ahead with it. We don’t want to talk about how the law is tagious. I hope it will continue to be had already won when they ran that operating. You sure as heck don’t want even more contagious in the Repub- ad. I don’t know how many days before to talk about all of the people who are lican Congress. I hope by the time we that they put the ad in, but nonethe- losing their jobs because of come to the cloture vote on Saturday less we had won. ObamaCare. You sure as heck don’t that we see all 46 Republicans united in I don’t know if my friend remembers want to talk about all the people who voting against shutting off the debate that because my friend was not in the can’t get jobs, all the small businesses and against allowing majority leader Senate at that time. That is exactly that aren’t growing because of HARRY REID the ability to fund what happened, and it is very analo- ObamaCare. You certainly don’t want ObamaCare with a straight 51 party gous to a lot of things that are hap- to talk about all of the people forced vote. pening today. into part-time work, 29-hours-a-week Mr. INHOFE. Before that happens, I The other thing I wanted to mention work. You don’t want to talk about the think it is important that the people of is that anytime desperation starts to insurance premiums that are going up, this country have to know what this is set in, there are a lot of things that go pricing people out of the insurance all about. This is socialized medicine. around to confuse people. Let me tell market, and you especially don’t want A lot of them didn’t believe that. Last everyone what happened in Oklahoma to talk about all the people losing their week majority leader HARRY REID was today. This will surprise my friend health insurance. on the PBS ‘‘Nevada Week in Review.’’ from Texas. There are 14 people who My colleague read the stories from He was asked whether his goal was to started this—the Senator from Texas, East Texas of citizens there losing move ObamaCare to a single-payer sys- myself, and 12 other people about 6 their health insurance. That is hap- tem. His answer was: Yes, yes. Abso- weeks ago. During this time we have pening all over the country. lutely yes. Do a lot of the people know been in lockstep to see what we could So it doesn’t surprise me that the what a single-payer system is? That is do to stop this from happening to my Senator from Oklahoma is seeing essentially socialized medicine. 20 kids and grandkids and the rest of robocalls in the State of Oklahoma be- I was around during the Clinton ad- America. ministration when there was a thing cause they don’t want to debate on the People realized I was there from the merits of ObamaCare because it is in- called Hillary health care. Does my very beginning, as the Senator from friend from Texas remember Hillary defensible. So the only strategy is Texas mentioned, and yet we have health care? smoke and mirrors. The only strategy some of the Obama people who are Mr. CRUZ. I do indeed. I remember in is, if we can’t talk about the law, let’s particular at the time the press and all doing robocalls in my State of Okla- convince them about something else. of the graybeards in Washington at the homa posing as tea party people and Let’s distract them. Let’s figure out time saying that Hillary Care was saying to call INHOFE because he is for anything to take people’s minds off of unstoppable. It can’t stop it. Repub- ObamaCare. the underlying issue. I say to my good friend, I can’t be- licans need to get together. I would note to my friend from Okla- If the Senator from Oklahoma will lieve something like that is happening. homa, the only way that strategy recall, initially the response was de- It shows a level of desperation where works is if the American people don’t scribed as like Hillary care lite. Back they are trying to get people confused believe Washington will listen to them. then in the midst of the Hillary care as to what the issue is and want to get Look, there are a lot of reasons for fight there were a few courageous lead- to these deadlines so we can get past the American people to believe Wash- ers in the House who stood up against this and have this thing as a reality. ington is not going to listen to them Hillary Care. What changed that battle Every liberal in America is probably because Washington hasn’t been listen- was the American people rising. At the for it. ing to us for a long time. Politicians on end of the day, it is the only thing that Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from both sides of this aisle have lost touch can win any fights. Oklahoma for that question. I have to with their constituents. They don’t go Mr. INHOFE. That is exactly what say I am not surprised. There is an old home, don’t go to townhall meetings, did happen. I can remember going from adage among courtroom lawyers: If you and view the desires of their constitu- Washington to my hometown of Tulsa. have the facts, pound the facts. If you ents as simply uninformed and not rel- Normally I have to go through Chi- have the law, pound the law. If you evant to doing our jobs. cago. Chicago is where the AMA has don’t have either, pound the table. Mr. INHOFE. If the Senator from their headquarters, and it is probably To be honest, the approach by Texas will yield, because he said some- still there. I will always remember ObamaCare defenders is an awful lot of thing that is so profound. this. I was rejoicing. I was coming back table pounding. It is an awful lot of Mr. CRUZ. I am yielding for a ques- after the long fight against Hillary ‘‘let’s discuss anything other than tion but not yielding the floor. health care or socialized medicine. I re- what, in fact, happened.’’ Pick up any Mr. INHOFE. Of course. The Senator member saying the question on the newspaper and it is talking about this from Texas said if you don’t have logic Senate floor: Try to explain this to me: issue. What will the reporters, the po- on your side or the facts on your side If socialized medicine doesn’t work in litical reporters in Washington, DC, or the public on your side, what do you Great Britain, Sweden, or Canada, why write about? I think some may be frus- do? It is not just pounding the table. It would it work in this country? They trated because they wanted to be Hol- is name-calling. never said it, but what they were lywood gossip reporters because they I went through this, I would suggest thinking was: If I were running it, it covered these issues as a battle of per- to my friend, 12 years ago when the would work. We got that point across. sonalities. If you want to get a story on Kyoto treaty was up and everyone They started way ahead with Hillary the front page of the paper, find some thought global warming was coming health care, and then we started to anonymous congressional staffer to say and that was going to be everyone’s catch up. Just like now people are real- something scurrilous, ideally include trip to the White House to support izing this is a failed socialized medi- profanity in it, and the political re- global warming, until we realized what cine effort. We had won. porters eat it up, because, apparently, the cost would be. I was the bad guy

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.074 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6737 because I stood and said: No, this isn’t her kids because she wants her kids to have a college degree, but he is seeing true. First of all, it is a hoax; and sec- have a good home, she wants her kids more and more college degrees getting ondly, even if it is not, we couldn’t do to have an education, she wants her in, and he is saying: Gosh, I thought it. That is when all the name-calling kids to have a future. Her hours have this was a job that helped me pay my started. I can remember being called— been reduced to 29 hours a week and way through school. If this is the end in writing and by a fairly prominent she doesn’t know what is coming next. job after you get a degree, what does it person—I should be hanged for treason That is hard work. That is suffering. say about opportunity? at that time. That is what they get, This ain’t nothing. The last quote I read was: and that is what my friend is going The Senator from Oklahoma speaks I think a lot about whether I am ahead or through right now with a lot of people with disabled veterans, as I know he behind. I really hope I’m not ahead. who don’t agree with him. has done many times, and he is worried The article continues: about the impact of ObamaCare on our Twelve years later, what has hap- Americans aren’t the only ones asking pened? People realize I was right. I am economy, of jobs drying up. He is wor- such questions. The financial crisis that not suggesting it is going to be 12 years ried about his grandson who is just began in the U.S. quickly rippled across the before they realize the Senator from coming out of school right now but Atlantic, bursting similar credit and prop- Texas is right on this, but it means the who can’t get a job. That is a lot more erty bubbles in countries such as the U.K., behavior of people today is something important than the political bickering Ireland and Spain, and crippling a European that has happened many times in the back and forth. That was my point banking sector that had dense links with the past. about all of the press coverage dealing U.S. financial system. So I would just ask my friend to re- with—it is not about any personality Much of Europe’s economy was plunged into its worst postwar slump and has strug- member that and to realize that quite here; it is about listening to the Amer- gled even more in the U.S. to regain its often, when a person is right on a con- ican people. precrisis levels of growth and jobs. In Eu- troversial issue, they are going to be The American people do not give a rope, the banking crisis also triggered a sec- the subject of a lot of criticism, a lot of flying flip about any Member of the ond-wave crisis—massive capital flights from cussing, a lot of name-calling, and a lot Senate—none of the 100 of us. What the Southern European countries that relied on of violence. So this isn’t the first time. American people are interested in is foreign borrowing—that came close to unrav- Mr. CRUZ. I thank my friend from what we have always been interested eling the euro. Oklahoma for his very kind remarks of in, which is freedom, our families, pro- Let me move forward beyond the Eu- support and encouragement and for his viding for our kids, being a good exam- ropeans, back to where it discusses friendship from day one since I arrived ple to our kids, working for a better American young people again: in the Senate. I do hope other col- world and working so our kids and But there are signs that the weak economy leagues in this body don’t listen to all their kids have an even better future is leading to deep societal changes. An entire of the remarks of the Senator from and opportunity than we have had. If generation is putting off the rituals of early Oklahoma and suddenly discover that we go back centuries, we see that every adulthood: Moving away, getting married, hanging for treason is an option be- generation of Americans has been able buying a home and having children. The marriage rate among young people, long in cause that may not work out terribly to give to the next generation a bright- decline, fell even faster during the recession, well for me. I hope that becomes purely er future, greater prosperity, greater and the birth rate for women in their early fictional. opportunity. We are on the verge of 20s fell to an all-time low in 2012. I will know that at the end of the being the first generation of Americans Why do we think it is that young day—listen, the Senator from Okla- not to do so. If we want to put our fin- people are putting off marriage and homa and I, and all 100 of us, are in- gers on the discontent so many Ameri- putting off kids? credibly fortunate. We have lived lives cans feel, that goes right to the heart in this country of relative privilege. According to a recent Pew Research Study, of it: What we are doing in Washington 56 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds lived with We, everyone in the Senate, enjoys a isn’t working. their parents in 2012, up from 51 percent in good home, has a soft bed, I suspect, The economic malaise. I refer to the 2007— has air-conditioning, has food on the last 5 years as the ‘‘great stagnation’’ Fifty-six percent of 18- to 24-year- table. I feel blessed to have a wife who because for 4 consecutive years our olds lived with their parents in 2012— is my best friend in the world and economy has grown on average 0.9 per- whom I love with all my heart, to have cent a year. It is not working. Intel- an increase that looks particularly dramatic because the share had changed little in the two precious little girls who are the ligent, rational people looking at a set previous four decades. joy of my life. To be able to come to of policies that aren’t working would Moreover, many young people are work every day, to walk on this Senate do the intelligent, rational thing. We losing hopes of matching the pros- floor, there is not a day when that would correct course. We would say, perity of their parents’ generation. doesn’t take my breath away. The idea OK, this isn’t working. What has I talked a minute ago about the hope that the son of a Cuban immigrant worked? But that is not happening. It of all of us that our kids have greater with nothing, who finds himself sud- is not happening because even though opportunity. What does it say that denly elected to the Senate, to have it is not working, the failures aren’t young people are losing hope of even the opportunity to come in every day, visited on Congress. The failures are matching where we are, much less hav- it is truly awesome, in the real sense of visited on the American people. Con- ing greater prosperity? the word. There was a time when the gress exempts itself from ObamaCare. word ‘‘awesome’’ was a Valley girl It doesn’t even do it in the law. The Just 11 percent of employed young people in a recent Pew survey said they had a ca- phrase for everything, but awesome, in law says we are covered by it, but, in- reer as opposed to ‘‘just a job’’; fewer than its real sense of inspiring awe—I will stead, Democratic Senators go to the half said they were even on track for one. tell my colleague I find it awesome President and say: We want a special John Connelly thought he was on the right every day to walk into this Capitol and exemption for us that doesn’t apply to track in life. The son of a New Jersey auto to have the amazing privilege to serve, the American people. So the funda- mechanic, he was the first in his family to go as the Senator from Oklahoma and I mental problem is that elected officials to college when he enrolled in Rutgers in do, as do all 100 of us. The slings and are not listening to the people. 2009. arrows one deals with serving in public Earlier, I was reading the article I will note as an aside, my uncle went office, to be perfectly candid, are all about the lost generation of young peo- to Rutgers. I went to college, to chickenfeed. The old phrase about ple from the Wall Street Journal that Princeton in New Jersey, and my uncle sticks and stones—listen, someone say- ran on September 19. I made it about was often fond of reminding me that ing something mean about another is halfway through. Let me finish that ar- the very first collegiate football game nothing compared to the suffering that ticle because I think it raises some that ever was played in the United so many people across this country are very important issues. The last thing I States was played between Rutgers and experiencing. read was about the young man, 23 years Princeton. At every Thanksgiving, my I sat down with one single mom who old, working a job where he says his uncle would then remind me who won is working her heart out to provide for job at the grocery store—he doesn’t and it was Rutgers who won. Princeton

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.075 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6738 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 got whipped in that Princeton game. I American people are hurting under note, two Democrats joined the House am sure John Connelly is quite aware ObamaCare. Republicans in that vote. that Rutgers won the first collegiate Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield football game in the United States. for a further question? further for a question? Four years later, the 22-year-old found Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a Mr. CRUZ. I would like to finish an- himself $21,000 in debt, without a permanent question without yielding the floor. swering the Senator’s last question, job and sleeping on friends’ couches in New Mr. DURBIN. The Senator has spo- and I am happy to yield for another. Jersey and Brooklyn. ‘‘I hear a lot of stuff ken at length many times, including But let me finish answering the Sen- that people in my generation aren’t buying today, about his education. I respect ator’s question. cars or houses, and I’m a step beyond that— him. He has gone to some very famous The third step is where we are now as I can’t even pay rent on time,’’ Mr. Connelly schools. Certainly, the Senator under- the Senate. In the Senate, we are going says. ‘‘I have a hard time planning 10 years in the future when I can hardly plan three stands it takes 60 votes to achieve the to have to do two things. The first months in the future.’’ goal he is trying to achieve, which thing we are going to have to do in At Rutgers, Mr. Connelly was an honors means the Senator believes he has at order to successfully defund student and president of the student assem- least all the votes on his side of the ObamaCare is to unify Republicans, to bly. But wary of taking on more debt, he aisle and another 14 votes on the bring together all 46 Republicans, op- ended up withdrawing from school with three Democratic side of the aisle to repeal posing cloture, opposing HARRY REID credits to go until graduation. After a sum- ObamaCare. Does the Senator have being able to fund ObamaCare on a mer spent living with friends while working that belief? straight 51-vote partisan vote. I believe a temporary job at a Brooklyn nonprofit, he found a grant that allowed him to reenroll in Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator for every Republican should be unified in school this fall, but he still doesn’t know that question, and I thank the Senator that. Right now we are not. Right now what he will do when he graduates at the end for the comment he has made in public, there are divisions in the Republican of the semester. ‘‘I kind of did everything I noting that having attended the caucus. I am hopeful Republicans will was quote-unquote ‘‘supposed’’ to be doing,’’ schools I have that perhaps I had not listen to our constituents. I cannot he says. learned to count to 60. I will note that convince my colleagues. The only peo- I am still reading from the Wall I am quite familiar with what is nec- ple who can convince my colleagues on Street Journal: essary to defund ObamaCare. What I this side of the aisle or that side of the The costs of a ‘‘lost generation’’ go beyond have said for months is this is a long aisle are the people all of us work for, the impact on young people themselves. A process. I am not remotely the American people. 2012 analysis commissioned by the Corpora- Pollyannaish. I am not remotely under If we are able to unify Republicans, tion for National and Community Service, a the illusion that this is going to be a the next step—the Senator asked me: federal agency, estimated that the 6.7 mil- short, quick process, that suddenly How do we ultimately get to 60? I as- lion American youth who are disconnected ObamaCare will be defunded. sume the predicate of that question is from both school and work could ultimately cost taxpayers $1.6 trillion in lost tax re- I am getting to the answer to the that the first thing we would have to ceipts, increased reliance on government Senator’s question, but it is a detailed do is to get to 51—so if we got 46 Re- benefits and other expenses. Look at broader answer, so if he will forgive me, I will publicans and we initially got five economic and social effects such as lost take a few moments to lay it out. Democrats. How would we get five earnings and increased criminal activity and In my view, the first step to this Democrats? As the Senator from Illi- the impact tops $4.7 trillion, the researchers process was unifying and motivating nois is well aware, there are quite a few estimated. the American people. This process was Democrats who are up for election in Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield never going to work unless the Amer- red States, States where their citizens for a question? ican people became engaged in historic understand ObamaCare is a train The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. numbers. So I spent much of the month wreck. It is not working. I believe if KAINE). Will the Senator yield? of August and September during our those Democratic Senators, particu- Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a recess traveling the State of Texas, larly in red States, begin hearing from question without yielding the floor. traveling the country, doing every- their constituents in overwhelming The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- thing I could to go directly to the numbers, that will change their cal- ator from Illinois. American people, to go around the lob- culus. Mr. DURBIN. My understanding is byists, to go around the entrenched in- Let me readily admit, as long as Re- that the Senator’s position is, if we do terests in Washington, and go straight publicans are divided, as long as we are not defund ObamaCare, as he has char- to the American people. shooting at each other, there is not a acterized it—the health care reform I will tell the Senator, the response lot of incentive for Democrats to come act—that he believes we should shut was incredible. Everywhere I would go, join us. But if we can unify Repub- down the government on October 1. Is I would see 1,000, 2,000 people show up. licans, then I believe we will start with that the Senator’s position? We have seen over 1.6 million Ameri- red State Democrats who will poten- Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from cans sign a national petition to defund tially lose their jobs if they continue Illinois for that question. That most ObamaCare. not listening to their people. assuredly is not my position, so I That was the first step. That was not Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield thank the Senator for the opportunity going to be enough, but it was a crit- for a further question? to clarify it. ical first step. Mr. CRUZ. Sure. Let me be very clear. I do not believe The second step was what happened Mr. DURBIN. I might question the we should shut down the Federal Gov- last week. It was the House of Rep- Senator’s premise as to whether the ernment. The only reason we might resentatives voting to defund House was going to vote the way it did. shut down the Federal Government is ObamaCare. Since it has voted 42 times to abolish if President Obama and Majority Lead- I would note, as the Senator from Il- ObamaCare, it came as no surprise. er REID decide they want to force a linois is well aware, that as recently as But let me ask a specific question. government shutdown. a couple weeks ago, every learned ob- One of the reasons I voted for health What I believe we should do is the server, every pundit, everyone in Wash- care reform—and I am proud that I same thing the House of Representa- ington said: It is impossible that the did—was illustrated by a woman whom tives did, the same thing the House House is going to pass a continuing res- I met in southern Illinois. The Senator courageously did, which was last Fri- olution that defunds ObamaCare. It is has spoken today about hard-working day the House of Representatives voted not going to happen. Yet on Friday it people, including members of his own to fund every aspect of the Federal did. Why did it pass it? Because the family, and I do not doubt that. Government—every bit of it, including House of Representatives listened to This woman’s name is Judy. Judy is parts they disagree with—except for the American people, because the a housekeeper at a motel that I often ObamaCare. I would note to my friend Speaker of the House and House con- go to, and we have become friends. from Illinois, they did so in response to servatives stood and did the right thing Judy has worked her whole life in man- the American people because the and made a courageous vote. I will ual labor. She has been everything you

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.076 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6739 can imagine—a cook, a waitress, a would see their company support terminated text of ObamaCare provides that he housekeeper, all of these things. She is after 2013 and my support will terminate and I should be in those exchanges. It 62 years old. Judy told me that she had after 2018. In the meantime, I’ve lost two also provides that, just like the other never had health insurance one day in family doctors who have left the practice people in the exchange, our employers . . . and must settle for nurse practitioners her life, ever. She worked every single and physician assistants. I am fortunate to cannot subsidize it once we get in that day she could, but she never had health have good coverage, for which I pay dearly, exchange. insurance. It turns out Judy was dia- that is accepted everywhere; but I fear the Once it passed into law, the Demo- betic, and we found some doctors and day I can no longer afford it. I am paying for cratic caucus met with President hospitals locally in her area to give her Obama’s train wreck ever since the bill was Obama. Obviously, I was not in that some care. passed. Surely, there must be some way to meeting. But I read the public reports We have just had an announcement defund or repeal the bill. . . . Please help. of what occurred there. I read the press in Illinois that is going to be officially I would note for the Senator from Il- accounts. The press accounts all indi- released tomorrow about what this new linois, these pleas for help are coming cated that the majority leader and the health insurance marketplace in Illi- from all across the country. Democratic Members of the Senate nois means for people such as Judy. It Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield asked President Obama: Please get us means we are going to offer 165 dif- for another question? out from under this. We do not want to ferent health insurance plans in Illi- Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a be in the exchanges. nois by eight different insurers. The question without yielding the floor. I see my friend from Illinois is shak- premiums at the lowest level of health Mr. DURBIN. I think the Senator’s ing his head. I was not in the room. insurance, for those who are not under answer to Judy is: You need a better The press reports all say that is what Medicaid, will be in the range of $84 a job. After working a lifetime—62 years, occurred. But regardless, that is what month. But the good news for Judy is hard work, the best she can do; she has happened. that her income is so low she now never had health insurance—and I So that message was heard by the qualifies for Medicaid for the first time think the Senator’s answer was: Judy, President because shortly thereafter in her life. For the first time in her get a better job. the administration issued a ruling that life, Judy who would be turned down So let me ask another question. exempted Members of Congress and ex- because of the preexisting condition of When I voted for ObamaCare, health empted our staff. diabetes, is going to have the peace of care reform, one of the things that mo- I am curious, if the Senator from Illi- mind of health insurance. tivated me was the fact that health in- nois is such a fan of the exchanges, is The Senator and I are blessed to have surance companies would no longer be such a fan of the health care that has the best health insurance in America able to discriminate against Americans been provided to Judy, would the Sen- as Members of the Senate. So when the with preexisting conditions. ator from Illinois then support Senator Senator says he wants to disband and I have had a situation in my family, VITTER’s amendment to provide that stop ObamaCare, does he want to deny a child who had a serious physical every Member of Congress, every one of the opportunity for Judy and millions problem, who could not have qualified our staffs, every political appointee in more just like her for the first time in but for group health insurance that the Obama administration—and, frank- their lives to have the protection of was available to me as a Member of ly, I would like to see every Federal health insurance they can afford? Congress. If I had gone in the open employee all put under the exchanges— Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from market to buy a policy, I am not sure so if we are going to make the rules for Illinois for that question. I will say, I I would have bought one for my family the American people, that we be sub- respect his sincerity and passion in be- to cover my child. ject to those same rules, those same lieving that government solutions from So when the Senator says he wants plans, so that when we go on television Washington can fix this problem. I do to abolish ObamaCare, does he want to and say the exchanges are very good, not know if the Senator from Illinois abolish that part of ObamaCare which we are not talking about something shares the views that Majority Leader says you cannot discriminate against someone else is experiencing, we are REID expressed on television. I do not people with preexisting conditions talking about our own health care. know if his objective is as Majority when it comes to health insurance? If Mr. DURBIN. If the Senator would Leader REID said his was: to move to those people are victims of asthma, di- yield, I would like to respond and ask single-payer, government-provided, so- abetes, cancer treatment, mental ill- a question. cialized health care. But it may be. I do ness, does the Senator want to abolish Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a not want to put words in the Senator’s ObamaCare and that protection? question without yielding the floor. mouth. Certainly, I do not know one Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from Mr. DURBIN. The point I would like way or the other what his view would Illinois for that question. to make is that the Senator is just be. Let me answer it in two different plain wrong. What he has stated is just Mr. DURBIN. Thank you. ways. Let me talk generally about plain wrong. Here is the state of the Mr. CRUZ. But I will say this. The what the Senator talked about, about situation: The health insurance that Senator tells the story of Judy. The his health insurance and my health in- you enjoy and the Senator from Ala- best way for Judy or anyone to have surance as a Member of the Senate and bama and I enjoy, as well as the Sen- health insurance is to have an economy let me talk about preexisting condi- ator from Virginia, is the Federal Em- that is booming where people can get tions separately. ployees Health Benefits Program. It jobs and have opportunities. Indeed, let The first point I will make is that covers 8 million Federal employees and me respond with two things. the Senator from Illinois is passionate their families, including Members of No. 1, before the Senator from Illi- and has been quite eloquent describing Congress and our staff. The premiums nois came to the floor of the Senate, I what he perceives to be the benefits we pay for the health insurance we read a number of letters that have from ObamaCare. Yet I think it speaks choose—the Federal Government as come from people all over the country. volumes that the Senator from Illinois our employer pays 72 percent of the Let me just read the next one in my and I and every other Member of Con- premiums. This is not an unusual situ- stack because it happens to actually be gress have been exempted by President ation—150 million Americans, which is a counterpart to his story about Judy. Obama from the plain text of the stat- half of our population, have exactly the This is a constituent from ute. same arrangement. These are em- The statute provided—and it was in- Brackettville, TX, who wrote earlier ployer-sponsored employer contribu- serted quite deliberately—if we are this year: tions to the health care of their em- going to impose rules on the American ployees. Since the passage of what is known as people, we should be subject to the What the President did was to say, Obama Care, my insurance premiums have gone up three times. That doesn’t count the same rules, we should be put in the ex- No. 1, that you, Senator CRUZ, I, and increases in my Medicare Part A and B that changes similar to millions of other others will now have to buy our health have also risen. I was also informed prior to Americans. The Senator just talked insurance through the insurance ex- passage that certain retirees from one group about the wonderful exchange. The changes that we created in ObamaCare.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.077 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6740 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 With it, we will get the employer con- on television and say ‘‘this is great,’’ ing right now is not about strategy, it tribution, as we do now—as you enjoy we should know of which we speak be- is not about process, it is not about now personally and I enjoy—for that cause we got skin in the game and we procedures, and it is not about all of purchase of health insurance. are not being treated better. I think the pundits and pollsters and consult- My wife and I will be choosing a pol- under no circumstance should Members ants. The problem is that DC is not lis- icy from the health insurance market- of Congress be treated better than tening. place in the State of Illinois. We will hard-working Americans. That is what Everyone in America knows that have 8 different insurance companies President Obama did. He did so, by all ObamaCare is destroying jobs. What and 165 choices. That is our insurance. reports, at the request of Democratic the Senator from Alabama so elo- What you quarrel with is the em- Senators in this body. quently talked about, the econometric ployer contribution to health insur- Mr. DURBIN. Would the Senator predictions—you have to get outside ance. If that is now your position and yield for one last question? the beltway to any of the 50 States and the position of Senator VITTER and the Mr. SESSIONS. Would the Senator actually talk to people who are trying Republican Party, that it is a Federal yield? to find jobs and talk to small business subsidy which should be stopped, you Mr. DURBIN. I would like to ask one owners who are struggling under the are affecting the health insurance not last question. 20,000 pages of regulations. Everyone in just of Members of Congress and their Mr. CRUZ. I am going to yield to the America knows ObamaCare is destroy- staff but 150 million Americans. You Senator from Alabama. I am happy to ing jobs and driving up health care better think twice about this. If you return to the Senator from Illinois if costs. want to stop employer contributions to he would like to remain, but I want to Let me encourage right now everyone health insurance, that will be the head- be fair because the Senator from Ala- in America—President Obama 31⁄2 years line for tomorrow morning. I do not bama has been waiting for some time. ago promised the average American support that. My question is, Do you? So I am happy to yield for a question that by the end of his first term, by the Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from without yielding the floor. end of last year, the average American Illinois for his certainly genuine polit- Mr. SESSIONS. I thank the Senator. family’s premiums would drop $2,500. ical advice and counsel. I would note An econometric firm and others have Let me encourage everyone in America that the experience Democratic Sen- studied what is likely to happen in our whose premiums dropped $2,500 to go ators found under ObamaCare of sud- economy. As I understand it, they pre- online and tweet ‘‘ObamaCare cut my denly facing the prospect of losing dict that far more people will be premium.’’ You know what. I am will- their health insurance, of being forced dumped from coverage into the ex- ing to venture that in every one of into the exchanges, health insurance changes than they have today. So peo- these States, if all of the Democratic that had been employer provided— ple who are under health care coverage Senators who support ObamaCare are being forced into the exchanges with today—it is being paid for by their em- willing to say ‘‘I will take only the no employer subsidy, is a disconcerting ployer. The employer discovers it votes of those of you whose premiums experience. It is an experience nobody would be less expensive to quit pro- have gone down,’’ I can tell you right liked. It is an experience that is lousy. viding health care coverage and let now on the Republican side that I will There is a reason why Democratic Sen- those individuals go into the exchange, happily take the votes of everybody ators were so upset. There is a reason and they may or may not provide any else because I am going to predict that why congressional staff were so upset. subsidy to them. is not going to be a 50/50 election, it is What my friend from Illinois is not So I do think the extent to which we not even going to be a 60/40 election. focusing on is that right now there are as Senators go into the exchange and Everyone knows this thing is not work- Americans all over this country who are guaranteed the full subsidy we have ing, and Washington is pretending it are experiencing that same exact senti- been getting—that is different from does not know. This process is rigged. ment because of ObamaCare. Just a few what is going to happen to millions of That is why we have to make DC lis- weeks ago UPS sent a letter to some Americans. I guess the Senator maybe ten. 15,000 employees saying: We are drop- has heard that argument and how it is In traveling across Texas, just like ping spousal health insurance because possible that if businesses decide to the Senator traveling across Alabama, of ObamaCare. That is 15,000 UPS em- drop health care, individuals can then I hear the stories everywhere I go. It ployees who had insurance for their be forced to go into the exchange with- does not matter what town I am in, it husbands and wives, and suddenly out any subsidy at all. I would ask Sen- does not matter whom I am talking those husbands and wives are left with- ator CRUZ if he understands that is pos- about, I hear the stories. I see people out health insurance and being told: Go sibly what could happen to large num- with disabilities saying: Please stop on an exchange with no employer sub- bers of Americans. ObamaCare before I lose my health in- sidy. Senator DURBIN just made a pas- Mr. CRUZ. I think the Senator from surance. I see young people who would sionate case for why that is a terrible Alabama is exactly right. We are see- like to be working toward a career say- thing to tell people. I agree. ing Americans all over this country ing: Please, I would like a job. Listen, my preferred outcome is not hurt by ObamaCare. I met with a whole bunch of service to subject Members of Congress, con- I want to suggest that the problem men and women who had just come gressional staff, political appointees of we are debating today is bigger than back from Afghanistan at a military the administration, and Federal em- this continuing resolution, it is bigger base in Texas. I asked them, as I try do ployees to the exchanges and than ObamaCare, and it is bigger even in any gathering that is a small enough ObamaCare. My preference is to sub- than the Federal budget. The problem group that I can do this: Go around, ject nobody to that. But the reason is that the men and women of DC are share an issue that is weighing on your Senator GRASSLEY inserted that not listening. They are not listening to heart, that you pray about, that you amendment is because we have a prob- the millions of Americans who are ask- are concerned about. lem of a ruling class in Washington—in ing for more accountability, more re- I remember one young soldier said: I both parties; this is a bipartisan afflic- sponsibility, and more truth from their am most worried about jobs. When I tion—that believes the rules that gov- elected officials. It is time to make DC come out of the military, am I going to ern working Americans do not govern listen. have a job? All of my buddies, when us. I would observe that during the they come out, they cannot find jobs. So if we are going to set up a system, course of this afternoon, the hashtag Everyone nodded and said: That is if ObamaCare is going to force Ameri- ‘‘MakeDCListen’’ has been trending exactly right. cans all over this country to lose their No. 1 because the American people are The American people want to stop employer-provided health insurance, to frustrated. They are frustrated that this madness. So do I. be forced into the exchanges with no the Democratic Senate is not listening Here in Washington we pass million- subsidies, then the men and women to them. They are frustrated that the dollar bills and billion-dollar bills no who serve in this body should feel that Republican Senators are not listening one has ever read, without even voting pain exactly the same. So when we go to them. The whole debate we are hav- on them. We call it unanimous consent.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.079 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6741 It is only unanimous because we do not off, they can tell their constituents: I Both Senator LEE and I expressed the let the American people know. It would voted for the House bill. That is not view that we shouldn’t be engaging in be very interesting to bring 100 of our true, but they can tell them that. But procedural games; we should actually constituents in on any unanimous con- even better, a 51-vote threshold—here be defunding ObamaCare. One par- sent that is spending $1 billion here, $1 is the dirty little secret people do not ticular House Member who will remain billion there, and see what our con- want to admit: There are more than a unnamed called Senator LEE and made stituents think about that. The system few Republicans on this side who af- a comment that I thought was particu- is designed deliberately to hide what firmatively want a 51-vote threshold on larly revealing. He said: You guys we are doing. funding ObamaCare. Why? Because should be grateful. We gave you your In this debate right now there are they want two outcomes. No. 1, if we vote. many Members of this body who are have a 51-vote threshold on funding I remember thinking what a curious happy that the debate is covered with ObamaCare, I promise you all 46 Re- turn of phrase, ‘‘grateful.’’ What an obscurity over pressure, obscurity over publicans will vote against it. It will be odd, Washington view of things. Why a motion for cloture on a motion to a straight party-line vote, which means should we feel gratitude for getting a proceed. Nobody knows what that is. every Republican can go back to their vote that is 100 percent destined to lose You know what. That benefits Mem- district and say: Mr. and Mrs. America, because it is offered in such a way that bers of this body because it lets all 100 when I had the opportunity to vote HARRY REID, on a party-line vote, can go back to their citizens and say: What against ObamaCare, I did it. I did what fund ObamaCare, and yet we can all were you for? Yeah, yeah, I was for you wanted. have a symbolic vote. The reason, that because I was for the motion to I did what you want. The rest of it is frankly, is that this is a town where for whatchamacallit. kind of hidden in the procedural a long time neither side has listened to No one understands what that is. mumbo jumbo. But the beautiful out- the team. This is the town where for a You know, one of the things we see is come—and the reason why some Re- long time there have been elected poli- our leaders demand approval for bills publicans want a 51-vote threshold—is ticians who want symbolic votes. before they are amended. So we are if it is 51 votes we will lose. The Presi- Let me be very clear. I don’t want being asked this Friday or Saturday to dent is well aware there are more than any symbolic votes on anything. I vote to shut off debate on this bill be- 51 Democrats in this body. It will be a think everyone—our constituents fore we know what the bill will be. We partisan party-line Democratic vote, should know what we believe. Whether do not know what amendment HARRY exactly how ObamaCare got passed or not we get a vote on it to dem- REID is going to file, but we are asked into law. onstrate it shouldn’t matter, because if to cut off debate nonetheless. It is like I am going to suggest that Repub- we are standing and fighting, and if we former Speaker of the House NANCY licans going along and saying we want are walking the walk, our beliefs PELOSI when she said: Pass it to find a symbolic vote is not listening to the should be self-evident. out what is in it. You wonder why the people. Look, the dysfunction is on DC responds, the DC establishment American people are disgusted with both sides. The Democratic Members of responds, if anybody tries to tell the what happens in Washington. That is this Chamber—I understand, look, truth—look, I promise you, my obser- business as usual in this town. ObamaCare is a Democratic law passed vations right now that there are some Listen, the way this is planning to and signed into law by a Democratic Republicans that would like a symbolic unfold is very simple. Majority Leader President, passed into law with only vote and then would like to lose so REID has said that if he succeeds in clo- Democratic votes. that they don’t have any risk of it ac- ture, if he succeeds in shutting off de- It is hard, if you are a political party, tually being defunded, I promise you bate on Friday or Saturday, that he is to admit, gosh, this thing that we put those comments are not getting me in- going to introduce one amendment— a lot of political capital in, it ain’t vited to any cocktail parties in Wash- and by all appearances only one working. That is a difficult, risky ington anytime soon. That is perfectly amendment—to fund ObamaCare in its thing for anyone to say. fine. I don’t particularly enjoy cocktail entirety. That will be subject to a I am going to encourage—and my parties anyway. straight 51-vote threshold. hope is that by the end of this process This town needs a lot more truth There are a couple of dynamics going we will see some Democrats, Senate telling. It is absolutely true. Everyone on. No. 1, Republicans are actively de- Democrats, listen to their voters and here knows it, but we are not supposed bating among ourselves: Should Repub- say: Listen, I thought this thing would to say it out loud. There is a custom licans vote with HARRY REID and Sen- work, I hoped it would work, but it where we kind of wink at each other ate Democrats to allow HARRY REID hasn’t. That is what the unions have and say, listen, you are telling your and Senate Democrats to fund said. The labor unions that publicly, constituents one thing, I am telling my ObamaCare with a straight 51-vote par- vocally supported ObamaCare—and constituents one thing. Let’s not both- tisan majority? I do not find that a dif- many of them were active proponents er to give them the opportunity to ficult question. I think that should of getting it passed—have looked at it know the truth. unify all 46 Republicans to say no. We and said: Do you know what, we If we got 100 of your constituents or should not enable ObamaCare to be thought it would work and it hasn’t. mine, if we got 100 citizens from any of funded, and a vote for cloture on Fri- There is no shame in admitting you the 50 States and we put them in this day or Saturday is a vote to fund tried something and it didn’t work. I room instead of 100 Senators, I promise ObamaCare. They are one in the same. very much hope over the course of this you, No. 1, our constituents would not They are identical. debate we will see some Democratic care about a symbolic vote. If you got If you vote to give that power to Senators doing so. I would note that 100 people, why would you want a sym- HARRY REID to fund ObamaCare, then the fact that Senate Democrats are not bolic vote? What is the point of that? you are responsible for it being fund- participating, are not here, makes it It is only the politicians who make a ed—and, by the way, for it being funded less likely. But on the Republican side, living staying in office that want sym- in the same broken process where there the game is the same. bolic votes. Symbolic votes are useful are no amendments, there is no oppor- Washington, DC, is a strange place in for getting reelected. They don’t actu- tunity to change it, there is no oppor- many regards, one of which is symbolic ally change the country. They don’t tunity to offer anything. The Presiding votes are treated as tremendously im- make the lives of people better. But Officer will not have an opportunity to portant. I am told of a conversation they do help politicians who want to offer an amendment, and I will not that Senator LEE had with a Member of get reelected and want to run a cam- have an opportunity to offer an amend- the House when early on the House had paign ad saying, here is what I voted to ment. Instead, it is brute political not yet voted to defund ObamaCare, do. force. but there was discussion about casting If you have 100 citizens in the Com- But I will tell of an upside—an up- a symbolic vote to do so. The American monwealth of Virginia, the great State side, frankly, from some Members of people were quite unhappy with that of Texas, the great State of Alabama, the Republican caucus. If debate is cut and expressed that view. what they would say on ObamaCare is,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.080 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6742 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 we have to fix this. We have to get peo- right, and no time talking about funda- bers of the Democratic Party, when ple back to work. We have to deal with mental tax reform, fundamental regu- asked—when I made a comment about all the young people that are stuck in latory reform. Today we are talking Senator REID, that the majority leader dead-end jobs because they can’t get a about defunding ObamaCare, the big- of the Senate said he wanted a single job coming out of school. We have to gest job killer in the country. If you payer—he said, this ought to be a sin- deal with all the people, all single want to get jobs and the economy gle payer system. moms working in diners who are find- going, there is nothing we could do I don’t know how many others have. ing themselves working 29 hours a that is more important than defunding The President said, in 2003, when he week because of ObamaCare. We have ObamaCare. was running, he flat out said he wanted to deal with all of the people who are What is the case? There are right to have a single payer. Then he backed struggling because their health insur- now three Members of the Senate on off and began to obscure that position, ance premiums are skyrocketing under the floor of the Senate and two Mem- it seems to me. It seems to me that ObamaCare. We have to deal with all of bers of the House of Representatives. they realize that the American people the people who are losing their health Ask the American people, how many were nowhere ready to have their gov- insurance under ObamaCare. Senators should be here in the debate ernment take over health care. So This is why I am speaking out today over defunding ObamaCare, the biggest what did they do? It seemed to me that and why so many others have come job killer in this country? Because the they obscured what the reality of this here speaking out because we have to American people’s top priority is jobs legislation was. They began to move make DC listen. That is what this fight and the economy, the people would say away from it, and they began to say is about, to make DC listen to the to all 100 Senators, what possibly do that it was something that it wasn’t. American people. I very much hope you have that is more important to do? In the last few days it is almost like that the debate over the course of this I expect some of my colleagues are at they have come out here in the open week has a real effect changing the cul- a fundraising dinner. Some of our col- and begun to say that is what should ture. That is why this body has held 10, leagues are at home with their fami- happen. I understand the Democratic 12, 14 percent approval ratings. lies. leader in the House, NANCY PELOSI, has I remember a few months ago when Do you want to know why Congress said that she favors a single-payer sys- all of us were in the Old Senate Cham- is held in such low esteem? It is not tem. ber, all 100 Senators. It was a bipar- that we don’t pass enough laws; it is I think I will say to Senator CRUZ tisan meeting, and it was actually a that the priorities of the men and that I feel you are doing important very interesting, productive conversa- women in this body are not the prior- work because the American people may tion. I remember a number of Senators ities of the men and women in Amer- not yet fully know how huge an issue it commenting about the low approval ica. We are not listening to America. is before this Congress. This is huge. The most important objective, what I ratings that Congress has and saying Let me ask again, when we say there hope will come of this week, more im- something to the effect that it is be- is a single payer—hair begins to stand portant than the continuing resolution cause we are not more efficient, that up on my neck—I think I know who the and the budget, more important than payer is. Who would be the single payer we don’t pass more laws. ObamaCare, is that we make some real I have to say I think that gets it ex- for all health care in America if that progress to changing the culture of this actly backwards. I have never once kind of agenda took place? place so that both Democrats and Re- found any constituent in the State of Mr. CRUZ. I thank Senator SESSIONS publicans start listening to the people. Texas—and I suspect there are not for that very important question. The That is the way our democratic repub- many in your State, in my State, or in payer would be the U.S. Government, lic is supposed to work. Right now, un- anyone else’s State—who says the which means the payer would be the fortunately, it is not how it is working. U.S. taxpayer, which means the payer problem is you guys aren’t passing Mr. SESSIONS. Will the Senator would be hard-working Americans, enough laws. That is not what I hear yield for a question? from people. Mr. CRUZ. I yield for a question once the Federal Government starts It is what you hear from politicians without yielding the floor. paying for all health care in all of in Washington who would like to pass Mr. SESSIONS. The Senator made an America, which has been the stated po- as many laws as possible so they can important point about too often what sition of the far left for a long, long take credit for them. But it is not what goes on around here is that we have to time. you hear from people. The people at obscure the reality of what is hap- The Senator from Alabama made ref- home say: You guys have done enough pening. I think that is important. I erence to Senator BERNIE SANDERS. I damage already. I will tell you why I wish to ask about it. The Senator agree. I respect Senator SANDERS’s think we are held in such low esteem. asked Senator DURBIN—I didn’t see ex- commitment to his principles. As you It is because we don’t listen to the actly how he answered. I think the know, he previously ran as a socialist. American people. Senator asked him whether or not he That is correct. I respect that degree of In every poll that has been done for believed in a single payer. I don’t think candor. Quite frankly, I would be very years of the American people, in any he answered. We know for a fact, happy if this body had 10 more BERNIE State, whether your State, my State, though, that Senator REID in August SANDERS and 10 more MIKE LEEs, be- any State, even bright blue States, said, when squarely asked: Do you be- cause I think there would be far more Democratic States, if you ask the lieve in a single payer, he said: Yes, truth in advertising and then we could American people what is their top pri- yes, absolutely yes. have real debate about what the role of ority, jobs and the economy is the What we have learned since then is government should be in our lives. overwhelming answer. This is true if that others are making the same state- Should we have socialized medicine? you ask Republicans, even if you ask ment. This spring, Senator SANDERS of That is a very good debate to have, es- only Democrats. If you ask only Demo- Vermont, a nice and able Senator in pecially because—and I know the Sen- crats in bright blue States, jobs and the Budget Committee, said this bill is ator from Alabama agrees with me on the economy are still the top priority— not going to work; really, in my view, this—the facts are on our side. In every or independents, Libertarians, anyone it is not going to work; It needs to be country on Earth where socialized in the United States. a single payer. medicine has been implemented it Yet the Presiding Officer and I have Senator SANDERS is one of our more hasn’t worked. We know what the re- both served in this body 9 months. I liberal Members—and I think it was sults are. If you implement socialized would note the 9 months we have been how he identified himself, as a social- medicine, you inevitably see poor qual- here the Senate has spent virtually ist, but he is an honest, able advocate. ity. You see rationing, you see scar- zero time talking about jobs and the He said the truth: this bill, as written, city. You see the government getting economy. It is not on the agenda. We will not work. It has to be a single between you and your doctor, the gov- don’t talk about it. We spent 6 weeks payer. ernment deciding you want a health talking about guns, talking about tak- Only this afternoon in the Budget treatment, your mother wants a health ing away people’s Second Amendment Committee, one of our esteemed Mem- treatment, your child needs a health

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.081 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6743 treatment. And you have a government concerns are: I am trying to get a job I will note that any Republican—on bureaucrat deciding whether you get and I can’t get a job. I am trying to Friday or Saturday when we have the one. Maybe the bureaucrat tells you: grow my small business and cloture vote—who votes to cut off de- Well, you can get that hip replacement ObamaCare is driving us out of busi- bate is voting to give majority leader you want in 6 months, in 1 year. But ness. I am afraid of losing my health HARRY REID the ability to force fund- they may turn to Senator LEE and say: insurance and ObamaCare is taking ing for ObamaCare with no changes— You know what. Your mom can’t get away health insurance. no amendments, shutting off amend- that treatment. We have determined in Look, we have read, and I have stack ments. The Senator from Alabama our tables it doesn’t make sense to give after stack that I am going to keep can’t offer amendments, I can’t offer her that treatment. I guess she is at reading, from individual constituents— amendments, and we can’t do any- the end of her road. constituents in Texas and Virginia and thing. It is a pure exercise of political That is what happens. It is the gov- Utah and Alabama and all over the power on a straight party-line vote. ernment that decides who gets health country—who are losing their health That will make many Republicans care and who doesn’t. And you know insurance because of ObamaCare, who happy because they will get to sym- what. Americans overwhelmingly don’t are losing their jobs and being forced bolically vote against it, and then we want that. This is another point that is into part-time work. We need to listen will be certain to lose if it is a 51-vote critical. It is not just that Majority to the people. threshold. Leader REID said he likes single-payer I told the men and women who are Part of the reason, I would suggest— socialized health care; it is that he watching tonight if they were to tweet and one can understand why the major- says, and a number of others have, that the hashtag ‘‘MakeDCListen,’’ which ity leader wants to do that. Listen, if ObamaCare is designed to lead to that. has been, over the course of this, you are defending a law such as I think it is very important to ask the trending No. 1, that I would share some ObamaCare, that is a train wreck, in question: Why? How does it lead to of the tweets they sent. So with your the words of the Democrat who wrote that? Because that goes to both sides indulgence, I would like to do so to the bill, you don’t want to debate the of the aisle. help give them a voice. substance of it. When the esteemed There are many Republicans who Many of these folks right now pre- Senator from Illinois was down on the have said: We shouldn’t fight this fight. sumably cannot walk on to the Senate floor—and I appreciate his coming—he It is risky. We will get political blame. Floor and give a speech. Maybe in a few sure didn’t want to debate why there is All of the DC pundits say we shouldn’t years some of them might. Maybe in a a congressional exemption, why Mem- do this. Let’s sit quietly and let few years, if enough politicians in this bers of Congress are treated better ObamaCare collapse. It is collapsing of body don’t listen to the American peo- than average Americans, why Presi- its own weight, it is not working. If we ple we may get quite a few of these dent Obama has said Members of Con- sit quietly, it will collapse and the tweeters who show up as new Senators gress are going to be exempted from Democrats will take the blame. I am committed to listening to the Amer- ObamaCare but hard-working Amer- suggesting there is far too much worry ican people. But in the meantime— ican families are not. Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, will about blame and credit. Who cares? I Look, I understand. If I were the the Senator yield for one question? Democratic majority leader and I were don’t care if Democrats take the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the defending that position, I wouldn’t blame. I would prefer to avoid the col- Senator from Texas yield? lapse and spare the Democrats the Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a want to defend it either. Because I blame. Who cares? question without yielding the floor. have to tell you there is not a State in But if it collapses, why is it that Ma- Mr. SESSIONS. When the Senator the Union where our constituents jority Leader REID says ObamaCare thinks about those people who have wouldn’t just about tar and feather us will lead to single payer? Because in tweeted and e-mailed and called and if we stood in front of them and de- the process of the collapse, it will take have written, most know something fended that, yes, there should be a spe- our private health insurance system about the American system. If you cial exemption for Members of Con- with it. Yes, it will collapse, but it will were in Illinois or Alabama or Texas or gress but not for you. And for big busi- leave a wreckage. It will leave millions Utah and you talked about this and ness. President Obama granted a spe- of people losing their health insurance, said: This law has got real problems cial exemption for big business, but not being pushed more and more into the and it can’t work the way it is, for you, not for hard-working Ameri- exchanges, with one insurer after the wouldn’t the Senator think they would cans. other pushed out of the market. So think the Senate would be able to take Look, what a perfect example of the when it collapses, there is no private up this legislation and actually discuss broken system, of the disconnect be- health insurance market to go back to. it in a grownup way; that amendments tween DC and the American people. It That is why Majority Leader REID can could be offered that could fix it and be is indefensible on the merits, and so tell the American people: Hey, I want voted on up or down? this whole process is designed not to the single-payer socialized medicine. Doesn’t the Senator think the fact debate on the merits. It is designed And relax, ObamaCare will take us to we are in this situation—the Senator never to have that debate because, as I that. called it a steamroller—where the ma- observed earlier, the old adage in the But that is also a real message to all jority leader is blocking all amend- courtroom—and my friend Senator LEE the Republicans who right now have ments, all ability to attempt to fix this will recognize this from his days as a not yet announced they are going to legislation and make something that litigator, as will the Chair—if you have oppose cloture on this bill. Because if would actually work, even though the the facts, pound the facts; if you have we wait for ObamaCare to collapse— House has passed repeatedly changing the law, pound the law; and if you don’t yes, it will collapse—with it will go the this law and ending this law, that the have either, pound the table. private health insurance system, and average American would be shocked to So if you are defending ObamaCare, if we may find ourselves in single payer. think we are incapable in this Senate you are defending exemptions for giant I think instead of worrying about of bringing up legislation and having it corporations and Members of Congress blame, instead of trying to play the voted on in order to fix this bill? that don’t go to the average American politics and think through it—and, lis- Mr. CRUZ. I think Senator SESSIONS family, you don’t want to talk about ten, I am not nearly smart enough to is absolutely right. The Senate isn’t the facts and you don’t want to talk play through all the political angles trying to fix this bill. The Senate isn’t about the law, so you want to pound and everything else—it is a lot simpler trying to respond to the needs of the the table. You want to talk about shut- to stand and do the right thing. One of American people. It isn’t trying to re- ting down the government. You want the easiest ways to do the right thing spond to the jobs that have been lost, to scare people. You want to threaten is to listen to the American people. to the people who have been forced into cutting off the funding of the men and You want to know what the Amer- part-time work, to the people who have women in the military, which is gross- ican people are worried about. Go home lost their health insurance. Instead, it ly irresponsible. I think Congress and listen to your constituents. Their is responding to political power. should never ever imperil the salaries

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.082 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6744 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 of the men and women who risk their anything, except the thing the Amer- We will not go quietly into this disaster lives to protect us. ican people care about—fixing the jobs called ObamaCare. Make it cover everyone This body should immediately take and the American economy. That is or no one. Make D.C. listen. up the Defense authorization bill the not what is happening. What a great point. If ObamaCare is House passed so that we can make sure All right, let me read some tweets. such a terrific thing, as its defenders the men and women in the military are Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, will say, then all of us should be subject to always paid. And, by the way, even the Senator yield one more time for a it—big businesses, Members of Con- without that—if there were a partial question? gress, our staffs, President Obama, shutdown—the President has all the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the every political appointee in the govern- authority he needs in existing law to Senator yield? ment, every Federal employee. pay the men and women in the mili- Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield for a If that is a burden—and I believe it tary. question. I would note my friend from would be a huge burden—I would not be But if you don’t want to debate the Alabama seems bound and determined eager about that personally, but if that merits, you have to distract people. So to stop the tweets. God bless him. is a burden, then it shouldn’t cover it is a game. If you talk to a profes- Mr. SESSIONS. I am interested in anyone. If there is some reason why sional magician, magicians are good at those tweets. I just wanted to thank that would be unacceptable—I actually banter and they are good at smoke and the Senator for what he has done, be- think, of all of those, our friends on the cause I think he is alerting all of us to mirrors and distraction. Sometimes Democratic side of the aisle would the critical importance of the health when they raise their hand and they probably get the most pushback from care issue. having it apply to all Federal employ- have a shiny object over here and they This is a plan, it seems to me, and want everyone to look over here, it is ees because Federal employees would the Senator has expressed it, I believe, push back mightily for good reason. because they are pulling a card out of to take over health care by the U.S. the deck with this hand. There are a But the right thing to take from that Government. We can all disagree. I was is not, well, all these guys should be lot of professional magicians in this here when everybody on the Repub- Senate. There is a purpose to all of the exempt. It is, why would they push lican side fought this legislation until back? discussion about shutdown and, for Christmas Eve, when it was finally that matter, all of the personal poli- If Members of Congress and their rammed through shortly before Scott staff, Federal employees, the Presi- tics—all of the attacks, more than a Brown from Massachusetts could take few of which have occurred within the dent, and the executive branch employ- office and kill it. That is how close it ees all found themselves subject to the Republican conference, more than a was. I know people disagree about how few of which have been directed at Sen- same exchanges, the same rules that to deal with it, and I understand and hard-working Americans find them- ator LEE, more than a few of which respect people with differing visions, selves subject to and they would be have been directed at myself, and more but I wanted to say the Senator’s lead- than a few have been directed at the really, really dismayed, that should ership has served a valuable purpose motivate every one of us to say: Hey, I courageous House conservatives who tonight, and I am pleased to be able to am a lot more worried about the single led the fight in the House to get the support his effort. I wish him every mom working in a diner than I am House of Representatives to do the success in those efforts, and I hope, as about the IRS tax agent making right thing and defund ObamaCare. It the Senator continues tonight, he will $125,000 a year who is dismayed about is not even the purpose that appears on drive home the critical importance of being subject to the same rules as that the face of it. One would think the pur- this issue as we go forward. It is a mat- single mom. And if we wouldn’t be will- pose is as it appears on the face. One ter this entire Nation cannot look ing to make it apply to everyone, then would think the purpose for leaking away from. It is a matter we need to it shouldn’t apply to anyone. nasty quotes, trying to beat up people, consider fixing because the legislation, sending congressional staffers to get as presently written, will not work. Make D.C. listen. Do the right thing and defund this abomination of an unfair tax. anonymous quotes—a little bit of pro- We have two choices, it seems to me. Listen up, America. This is your wake-up fanity, a sort of mean, wicked sense of We move forward to a single payer, as call. Make D.C. listen. humor is because they are trying to Senator SANDERS said we must do be- Defund ObamaCare now. We do not need pound somebody. It is not that, al- cause this legislation won’t work as this injurious legislation to be enacted. though that is an added side benefit. It written or will we move back to the Make D.C. listen. Stay strong. Vote no on cloture. is all about distraction. Make it about classical American view of insurance and private health care and our own ObamaCare must be stopped. The will of the the personalities, make it about the majority of Americans is to defund people, make it about anything, any- personal physicians. ObamaCare. Make D.C. listen. thing, anything other than ObamaCare. I thank the Senator from Texas and Sick of our employees deluding themselves If we were actually talking about would be pleased to hear some of those into believing they are our bosses. Make D.C. ObamaCare, if we were listening to the great tweets I know he has. listen. people—listen, if we were listening to Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from For those who didn’t follow it, we are the people, the people don’t give a flip Alabama, and I thank him for his per- the employees, the elected representa- about any of the hundred of us. They severance, his leadership, and his cour- tives who work for the American peo- don’t care about politicians. And for age. I will say there have been more ple, and yet an awful lot of people in good reason. There are very few people than a few legislative fights, and even this body think we are the bosses. That in America who say, when asked what a few while I have served in this body, is exactly backward. do you want to do on the Fourth of on which JEFF SESSIONS and I have We don’t want ObamaCare. We never did. July, they want to pal around with a been fighting side by side, and I appre- Defund it. Make D.C. listen. bunch of elected politicians. Most peo- ciate his friendship and wisdom, and it Just finished college. Can’t get a full-time ple want to be in their backyard grill- matters in this body. job. Thanks, ObamaCare. Make D.C. listen. Let’s hear from the American people There should be no law that exempts a few ing burgers with their kids. God bless some of the tweets that were sent this and burdens the citizens. We, the people, do them. That is why America is the afternoon during this discussion: NOT want ObamaCare. Make D.C. listen. greatest country on Earth, because we D.C. a leader out of touch. IRS has no busi- Already got a second job again because have families and it is not about gov- ness being involved with health care. Make taxes are squeezing me dry. Make D.C. lis- D.C. listen. ernment. You know, in a totalitarian ten. regime, everyone thinks about govern- Make D.C. listen, because ObamaCare and Congress passes laws that they don’t fol- its tax will damage the opportunity of Amer- low, lives large off our money, and has con- ment almost all the time. Because icans to choose the course of their own lives. when you have a jackboot on the back tempt for those they represent. Make D.C. My insurance premiums went from $450 in of your neck, it is hard to think about listen. 2010 to $880 in 2013 with $1500 deductible. 2700 pages when it was passed, over 20,000 Make D.C. listen. ObamaCare is a job killer, anything else. pages now to implement. Make D.C. listen. The game in Washington is smoke Vote no on cloture. A vote for cloture is a will ruin health care. and mirrors. The game in Washington vote to fund ObamaCare. Defund ObamaCare. Let’s look at those numbers again. is distract from anything, anything, Make D.C. listen. Two thousand ten was just a few years

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.084 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6745 ago, and $450 was that individual’s not just Republicans who understand Let me say, by the way, that is a ter- health insurance premium. Now it is ObamaCare isn’t working; it is Demo- rific proposal. Once we defund $880 in 2013. That is the impact crats, Independents, libertarians. ObamaCare, there will be a lot we will ObamaCare is having. I feel quite confident that James need to do on health insurance. There Here is a nice one: Hoffa, the president of the Teamsters, is a lot we need to do on health care re- Thank you for reading tweets so the Amer- is not a Republican. I really have no form to make it more affordable, to ican people can be heard. Make D.C. listen. doubts on that. Yet Mr. Hoffa in a pub- make policies personal and portable so You are welcome. It is a privilege to lic letter has said that ObamaCare is they go with you regardless of what job have a chance to in some small way destroying the 40 hour workweek that you are in. help provide a voice for the American is the backbone of the American mid- One of the best things we can do is people. dle class. allow interstate competition. Right IRS bureaucrats don’t want ObamaCare, Those are just the facts. That is what now it is illegal to purchase health in- either, but they are happy to force everyone is happening. If we were listening to surance across State lines. Why does else to conform to it. Make D.C. listen. the American people, every one of us that matter? Well, the biggest barrier ObamaCare has turned America into a would be here doing everything we to access for people who don’t have part-time nation. People are losing their could to turn it around now. We health insurance is the cost. You get homes. They can’t feed their children prop- wouldn’t be happy to wait until the end erly. Make D.C. listen. government regulators who drive the of the week. We would say: Now, let’s cost up and up because they mandate I wish to think about that last tweet stop this job killer. this bell and this whistle, and you have for a second. ObamaCare has turned Defund ObamaCare, because I know what is to cover everything they want. It is a America into a part-time nation, and best for my health care, not some bureau- great thing for politicians because if people are losing their homes. They crat. Make D.C. listen. you mandate that every health insur- can’t feed their children properly. If Defund ObamaCare. The majority of Amer- ance policy has to cover this procedure, any Member of this body was forced to ica is against this intrusion into our private it lets politicians come to the people work part-time, was losing his or her relationship with our doctor. Make D.C. lis- and say: I am giving you free what- home, couldn’t feed his or her children ten. Make D.C. listen because ObamaCare is have-yous. But one of the simplest properly, it would be a crisis. Talk killing full-time jobs. principles of government is that there about getting our attention—it would Make D.C. listen. Defund ObamaCare be- ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. be a crisis. If it was a family member, cause it takes our freedom away. Every time you mandate that a health if it was our parents, if our kids were If you love your country, value freedom insurance plan must include whatever facing that, we would move Heaven and and choice, oppose tyranny-style govern- benefit it is that politicians want to Earth to address it. Yet here it is our ment laws, then make D.C. listen to you. Tired of Senators who won’t listen. Make give away to the people, it drives the boss, the American people who are ex- D.C. listen. cost up. Every time the cost goes up, periencing that, and most Members of Make D.C. listen. Please stop ObamaCare. there are more and more people who this Senate are doing something else It is killing this country. can’t afford it. So you can have a lot of other than being here. We need the government to listen to the politicians giving away free stuff, and I will note that we have Congressman people and do what is best for the country. I support defunding ObamaCare 100 percent. when you do that, it will mean there LOUIE GOHMERT, Congressman PAUL Make D.C. listen. will be a whole bunch of people who get BROUN, and Congressman RICHARD HUD- Make D.C. listen. We don’t want govern- no coverage at all because they can’t SON was here earlier. But where is the ment intrusion into our health care. afford it. Senate? D.C. isn’t listening. Everyone in America If we were to allow purchases across We don’t feel the pain of the Amer- understands that ObamaCare isn’t working. State lines, we would see a true 50– ican people like it is ours, like it is us. Make D.C. listen. State national marketplace, true com- It is not surprising because President The health care reform that the President sold America isn’t the health care reform petition. There would be real choice. Obama has exempted Congress from that America is getting. Make D.C. listen. By the way, the people who may be ObamaCare, so we are not feeling the ObamaCare. AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME the biggest losers of all under pain. That is the problem. FOR THAT!!! Make D.C. listen. ObamaCare are the young. It is dif- ObamaCare has turned America into a Way to go. Make D.C. listen to our voices calling for individual liberty. ficult to design a bill to do more dam- part-time nation and people are losing their age to young people. The ‘‘lost genera- homes. They can’t feed their children prop- Make D.C. listen. We don’t get an excep- erly. Make D.C. listen. tion, so you shouldn’t either. tion’’ is what economists are now dub- Three years and they still can’t get it I agree. I think all of us should get bing young people, in significant part going. Make D.C. listen. an exception. Every American should because of the consequences of Make D.C. listen, because D.C. is not lis- get an exception. And there is no world ObamaCare. If you are a young healthy tening to the American people. HELP US. in which Congress should be treated person, it may well make sense to pur- Defund ACA. It is job killing and not af- chase catastrophic health insurance— fordable and we won’t get care, and our poli- better than hard-working American ticians act like it is good for us. families. health insurance that if, God forbid, you get hit by a truck tomorrow or you Well, that is true. A lot of politicians I don’t want more government. Make D.C. get diagnosed with some horrible life- do act as though this is really good for listen. I wish the Senate would listen to us. threatening disease. you. Mind you, we don’t want to be Please listen to the people. We don’t want The odds are relatively small that is subject to it, but trust us, it is good for this bill. We want freedom. Make D.C. listen. going to happen to any of us, but if it you. Different rules apply to the Wash- Make D.C. listen. ObamaCare is turning us does, it is very bad, and that is when ington, DC, ruling class than apply to into a part-time economy. Government is designed to go by the will of we want health insurance. If you could the American people. That is the prob- purchase insurance across State lines, lem. the people, not the other way around. Make D.C. listen. there would be a 50–State market and Help revive the economy. Make D.C. listen We don’t want it, don’t need it, can’t afford you could get low-cost, inexpensive and defund ObamaCare. Fight for real re- it. Please tell them to listen to its citizens. form. catastrophic health insurance. Make D.C. listen. If you think about health insurance ObamaCare is a disaster. Make D.C. listen. Ronald Reagan warned us about govern- Letters saying your plan is cancelled due ment-run health care. Bad. Bad. Bad. Make right now, it doesn’t work like insur- to the ACA ruins the ‘‘like it, keep it’’ nar- D.C. listen. ance. I wish to compare it to an insur- rative. Make D.C. listen. Make D.C. listen. Analysts, experts, and ance market that works. Most of us are By the way, that is from an indi- business people agree that the ACA will hurt familiar with car insurance. Most of us vidual who is @demcalal. Makes me our economy. who have cars have car insurance. With wonder if that is a Democrat in Cali- Americans are fed up with our elected offi- car insurance, if you need to change cials not listening. WE don’t want the oil in your car, you do not call All- fornia named Al. I don’t know if it is, ObamaCare. Make D.C. listen. but it would be interesting if it were. Let the free market make health care state and say: Change the oil in my What is interesting about this is that more affordable by allowing sales across car. If you get a flat tire, you typically if you get outside of Washington, it is state lines. Make D.C. listen. do not call Allstate and say: Hey, I

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.085 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6746 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 have a flat tire, change the tire on my a long way to mitigating it. Let me She asks rhetorically. Sarah, it is car. God forbid, if you get hit by an 18- point out all of those reforms have a not fair. Sarah, I would add to that, we wheeler and your car gets totaled, then fundamentally different philosophy have this health care law called the Pa- you call your insurance company and than ObamaCare. ObamaCare has a phi- tient Protection and Affordable Care say this catastrophic event happened; losophy empower government over Act. The idea of it is it is supposed to that is why I have insurance. A lot of your life, put a government bureaucrat make health care more affordable. people when it comes to health insur- between you and your doctor. The re- What we have found in recent months ance though, right now the system is forms I laid out are all about empow- is that it is going to make health care treated as just a third-party payer in- ering you, the American people, em- less affordable, with premium hikes ex- stead of dealing with catastrophic, un- powering you, the patient, to make a pected around the country. What we likely events. That is a reform that choice, empowering you to make deci- are seeing is that this law will make would make a real difference. sions about your health care with your health care not only less affordable, it If you want access to low-cost health doctor, with no government bureaucrat is also fundamentally unfair. It is un- insurance, allowing people to purchase anywhere near you. I am going to sug- fair in that it is forcing a lot of people it across State lines after we defund gest the difference is those plans come to have cuts made to their wages, cuts ObamaCare would make a real dif- from listening to the people. made to their hours. In many cases, ference, and if we added to that re- ObamaCare is the opposite of listening people are losing access to health care forms that expanded health savings ac- to the people. plans that they have enjoyed for years. counts so you could save in a tax-ad- Mr. LEE. Will the Senator from In some cases, they are even seeing vantaged way to meet routine preven- Texas yield for a question? that they will no longer have access to tion and maintenance, to take care of Mr. CRUZ. I am happy to yield to my the same physician or other health the equivalent, in the auto context, of friend from Utah for a question, and I care provider that they have enjoyed changing the tire, that would go even will return with yet more tweets at a for years. This is a law that while touted as further; and if we changed the tax law later point. making health care somehow more af- right now—most people do not know Mr. LEE. I say to Senator CRUZ I fordable is actually making it less af- that employer-provided health care is have come with some updates from the fordable. It is also being implemented an historical anomaly. It actually outside world, updates based on what I am hearing from my constituents at in a manner that will make our health arose during World War II. Shortly home. You may be interested in learn- care system fundamentally unfair. thereafter, when wage and price con- ing, I say to Senator CRUZ, that just Within my State, the State of Utah, we trols were in effect, employers had a today in the last 12 hours or so my of- have no fewer than five school districts challenge. They wanted to recruit em- fice has received nearly 1,100 e-mails, and three universities that have been ployees, but they could not raise 1,093 to be precise. Almost every single announcing cuts in their hours, cuts in wages. It was against the law. So they one of those is asking us to do what- their number of employees, all in re- began offering health insurance as a ever we can, do whatever it takes, to sponse to this law. It is interesting way to attract people, to say come defund ObamaCare. People are asking that what we are discussing, much of work for my company, we will give you us to fund government, keep govern- what we have been discussing, has been health insurance. ment functioning, but to defund on the upcoming cloture vote. There Right now the Federal tax laws heav- ObamaCare. have been those who have argued that ily favor employer health insurance. I also have some news from a local if you want to support the continuing The problem is, we don’t live in 1950s paper in the State of Utah. This is from resolution passed by the House of Rep- America now. There was a time when the Box Elder News Journal in the resentatives—remember, this is the people would get a job in a big com- northern part of my State. In an arti- continuing resolution that will keep pany and work 30, 40, 50 years, retire, cle written by Mike Nelson, an associ- our Federal Government funded while get a gold watch, and that would be it. ated editor with the Box Elder News defunding ObamaCare—that if you We don’t live in that kind of world any- Journal, we read about Brigham City want to support that, that you must more. moving to adjust its pay, to cut its vote yes on the cloture vote on the bill. Most people will work for one com- payroll, in order to avoid certain That is an interesting take on it be- pany, then another company, then an- ObamaCare provisions. I am going to cause not withstanding the fact that other company—relatively unlikely quote just from part of it here. It says: some in my party have been making that American workers are going to Changes are coming for paid on-call em- that suggestion, it is anticipated that stay with one company their entire ployees at Brigham City Emergency Services Mr. HARRY REID—the Senator from Ne- life. They are going to switch jobs, pos- Department in an effort by the department vada who is currently serving as the sibly a lot, sometimes voluntarily and and the city to avoid employee eligibility for Senate majority leader—that HARRY sometimes not voluntarily. health care under the Affordable Care Act. REID and 53 Democratic allies will, as I When you and I were in the private ‘‘Back in February it became apparent the understand it, all be voting for cloture sector, Mr. President, if we lost our ACA— on that bill. That begs the question, jobs and got fired, you didn’t lose your Or for those of you who see the news- are those same people who are sug- life insurance. You didn’t lose your car papers, ObamaCare— gesting that if you support the House- insurance. You didn’t lose your house was going to dramatically impact the way passed continuing resolution, the one insurance. The only insurance you we manage our fire and ambulance crews,’’ that funds government, keeps govern- said emergency services director Jim would lose if you lost your job was ment funded while defunding your health insurance. That doesn’t Buchanan, while addressing the issue at an August 1 city council meeting. ObamaCare, that you have to vote yes make any sense. Of all of them it is the This is one of many examples of not on cloture on the bill, does that mean worst one to lose. that HARRY REID and the 53 Democrats The Senator from Illinois asked just businesses but also local govern- ments that are having to make cuts in who are likely to follow him are also about preexisting conditions. If we supporting the House-passed con- could change the law so health insur- their payroll in order to adjust for this law. This is having a real impact on tinuing resolution, the one that keeps ance plans were personal and portable, government funded while defunding just like your car insurance, regardless real people. It is having an impact also on stu- ObamaCare? of where you happen to work it goes I find that a little strange. I find that dents. I received a message from a stu- with you, it travels with you, that goes a little counterintuitive. I think it is dent in Utah named Sarah. Sarah, a long way to solving the problem of important that we remember, and we today, a college student, writes: preexisting conditions, because where continually remind ourselves, what preexisting conditions have such a big I am a student facing a shrinking job mar- ket with fewer options. Now it seems this is about. When this continuing res- impact is when somebody loses one job ObamaCare is going to force me as a healthy olution passed by the House last and is trying to get coverage for the young person to pay more to keep the Presi- week—heroically in my opinion. It next job. If you could take your per- dent’s health plan functioning. How is that showed a real strong sense of leader- sonal portable plan with you, that goes fair? ship by Speaker JOHN BOEHNER and by

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.087 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6747 the other Republican leaders in the or no, up or down on the resolution all of the operative language and to House of Representatives and by the passed by the House of Representatives fund ObamaCare with a 51-vote pure- rank-and-file Members of the House nor would we be given the opportunity partisan Democratic majority. That is who voted for this legislation. When to have an open amendment process, not complicated. To be honest, it is they voted for this legislation to keep one that allows individual Senators to something every Senator in this body government funded while defunding propose amendments and have those understands. All the Democrats under- ObamaCare they stood with the Amer- amendment considered, voted on in stand it. It is why HARRY REID is vot- ican people who asked them for relief this body. ing yes on cloture. It is why, presum- from this bill. What we are being told instead is ably, every Democrat will vote yes on American people had been telling that what we will have is a single cloture. Why? It is the reason some of them: Look, we need help. They have amendment brought forward by the our colleagues have used as well: A been asking: How many of us will have Senate majority leader, one amend- ‘‘yes’’ vote on cloture says that they to see our hours cut? How many of us ment and one amendment only, and support the House of Representatives’ will have to experience wage cuts? How that amendment, by the way, would bill and support defunding ObamaCare. many of us will have to lose access to strip out the defunding language, it I suppose that means, then, that the health care we have enjoyed for would gut the House-passed continuing HARRY REID suddenly supports many years before Congress acts? resolution of a provision that many defunding ObamaCare and that every The House of Representatives did act. would consider the ‘‘without which Democrat supports defunding The body within our government, the not’’ part of the House-passed bill, ObamaCare. I say to my friend Senator branch within Congress that is most meaning the part without which the LEE that I would be very happy if that responsive to the American people, House of Representatives could not and were the case. If that interpretation acted to protect the American people would not have gotten the necessary were right and suddenly HARRY REID from this harmful law while simulta- 218 votes to pass a continuing resolu- and every Democrat supported neously keeping the Federal Govern- tion. That is a problem. That is a prob- defunding ObamaCare, that would be ment operating. lem indeed because that suggests that terrific. We know for a fact it is not Now that that has happened and that by voting for cloture in that posture, the case. We know for a fact it is not bill is moving over to the Senate, the where Senator REID is contemplating the case because they publicly said it. ball is in our court, we have a couple of allowing neither an open amendment We know for a fact it is not the case possible responses to that. The first process nor an up-or-down vote on the because just yesterday I asked for would be we could take it up and we House-passed resolution in as-is condi- unanimous consent to simply pass the could vote on it as is. We could vote on tion—in either of those circumstances, House bill. If every Democrat and it just as it was passed by the House. we would be fine. But we are not get- HARRY REID supported defunding We could vote on it, up or down, as is ting that. We are getting stuck with ObamaCare, he wouldn’t have objected. without any amendment. That would something else. He wants to gut the Everyone understands that the clo- be fine. I would be fine with that. If House-passed continuing resolution ture vote on Friday or Saturday will be that is what we were doing, I would be with the defunding language without a vote to allow HARRY REID to fully voting yes on the cloture vote. Of any open amendment process and with- fund ObamaCare using only a 51-vote course I would. I suspect my friend, the out the opportunity for an up-or-down majority that allows it to be done on a junior Senator from Texas, would as vote. straight partisan line. There is no con- well. So in that circumstance, I don’t un- fusion on that. Every Democrat under- There is another option. We could derstand why it would be the case that stands that, and every Republican un- say rather than vote on it as is, let’s Republicans would feel that voting yes derstands that. make adjustments to it. Let’s invite would be supporting the House of Rep- However, there is some confusion, amendments. Let’s have an open resentatives and voting no would be but not in this body, and it is so Sen- amendment process whereby Senators, voting against the House of Represent- ators believe with the American people whether Democrats or Republicans or atives. In fact, it seems to me, I say to because Senators think, well, the poli- the couple of Independents we have, Senator CRUZ, that would be quite the tics and procedural mumbo-jumbo is could submit amendments as they opposite of that. It seems to me that if, confusing enough that I can vote yes, deem fit, have those amendments not in fact, one wanted to stand behind the give HARRY REID the ability to fund just proposed but debated, discussed, House of Representatives and stand be- ObamaCare, and at the same time I can and ultimately voted upon. That would hind their willingness to defend the run paid advertisements—as more than be an acceptable alternative. American people and protect them a few of our colleagues may well be People around here often call this, from this harmful law, at the end of doing right now—that say: I want to the Senate, the world’s greatest delib- the day that would entail that anyone defund ObamaCare. They can’t do both. erative body. They call it that because who wanted to stand with the House of They can’t hand HARRY REID the abil- this is a place where, in theory, we are Representatives on that point would ity to fund ObamaCare and claim they supposed to have access to an open necessarily need to vote no if, in fact, want to defund it. Pick a side. Pick a amendment process; theoretically un- Senator REID does what we expect him position and stand by your beliefs. limited debate. Is it time consuming? to do later this week. I will give an analogy. The House of Yes. Is it cumbersome? Absolutely. Can Would the Senator agree that is what Representatives passed a bill that cut it be frustrating? Without question. one could expect in that circumstance? taxes, and then it came over to the But it is one of the things that distin- And would the Senator also agree that Senate. Majority leader HARRY REID guishes this body. It is one of the Senator REID is likely to have 53 announced that he wanted to file for things that makes this the Senate. Democrats going along with him, and if cloture on that bill, and then after that So if we were to have an open amend- Senator REID has 53 Democrats going happened, he would file an amendment ment process, it would take a lot of along with him, doesn’t that rather un- to erase all the tax cuts and to jack up time and it might even require another dercut the argument that in order to taxes by $1 trillion. Let’s suppose he all-night session just like we had a few support the House-passed bill one must announced this publicly and told every- months ago in connection with the vote yes on the cloture vote on cloture one: This is what I plan to do—and by budget resolution, but it would be on the bill? the way, it is going to be the only worth it. It would be entirely accept- Mr. CRUZ. I thank Senator LEE for amendment. I will totally gut the able, and I would be voting yes on clo- his very good question. I think the an- House bill and turn a tax cut into a tax ture on the bill if that is what we were swer is absolutely yes. If the objective increase. I am absolutely certain if faced with. But what we are faced with, of any Senate Republican is to support that were the case all 46 Republicans what we are told is going to happen, the House Republicans, the bill they would vote against cloture. We get the what we are told is being prepared to passed to defund ObamaCare, then one game. accept is neither of those options; not obviously would not vote to allow Ma- Voting to cut off debate is voting to being given the opportunity to vote yes jority Leader HARRY REID to strip out allow the majority leader to gut the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.088 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6748 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 House bill. So any Senator who votes know about it. It is not anything any is hurting Americans, then stand and for cloture is saying: I want the major- of us are going to do because our con- say: Let’s defund ObamaCare. ity leader to be able to gut the House stituents are now engaged and fol- I have made it very clear that we bill. But it is even better than that. lowing this debate directly. So the ad could end this debate right now if the What was it that P.T. Barnum said? that says ‘‘I am for defunding majority leader would come down and You can fool some of the people all the ObamaCare’’ while at the same time say—look, the best way to end this de- time, and all the people some of the fighting to keep funding ObamaCare bate would be if he would agree to pass time, but you can’t fool all of the peo- doesn’t work in the Internet age. It the House continuing resolution to ple all of the time. There are a lot of doesn’t work. fund all of government except for Members of this body who think: Some What is the old line? I try not to lie. ObamaCare. I recognize that is not of the people all of the time will be just I try to tell the truth because it is so likely to happen anytime soon, but it good enough for me. If I can vote to hard to keep track of the lies. Instead would be the best way, and it would be give HARRY REID the ability to fund of telling people multiple positions, the way that is most responsive to the ObamaCare, and then, beauty of all just stand and fight for what you be- American people. But the second way beauty, when we get to a 51-vote lieve in. to end this debate—and, by the way, to threshold on ObamaCare, I can vote Earlier we were talking about BERNIE expedite this whole process—is to sim- against funding ObamaCare, I can go SANDERS. I respect the heck out of BER- ply have the majority leader agree to home and say: Hey, I voted twice the NIE SANDERS. Actually—and this is a have open amendments and have those right way. Of course, I did it in a way comment that often surprises our amendments subject to a 60-vote that guaranteed 100 percent that we friends in the media and even some threshold. are going to lose. It guaranteed that Democrats—I respect President Obama. The Presiding Officer and I have both ObamaCare would be funded. I respect the man a great deal because been here the same number of Now, for that strategy to work, it de- I think he is deeply committed to his months—9 months. During the time we pends upon voters being really gullible principles. I think he has taken polit- have been here, we have seen vote after and confused. ical risks for his principles, I think he vote after vote with a 60-vote thresh- I was reading tweets earlier. Earlier has fought for them, and I think he is old. That is very common. we talked about how we are not living a true believer. Everything I have seen The Presiding Officer will remember in the 1950s. In many respects we are about his entire course of life—I think the guns debate we had. Guns are an not living in the 1950s. One of those re- he believes genuinely, earnestly, and emotional and passionate issue. It is an spects is we no longer have three big with all of his heart in government so- issue people on both sides care a lot networks that control all the news and lutions, government control of the about. I get that. The Presiding Officer limited avenues for the American peo- economy and our lives, and in redis- will remember that when we voted on ple to find out what is going on. We tribution of wealth. I have no reason to the floor of this Senate, every single have seen a democratization of infor- doubt that the President sleeps like a amendment was subject to a 60-vote mation. We now have cable TV and babe at night believing that he is fight- threshold. more channels, it seems, than one ing to better America. At the same In the course of that debate, I intro- could possibly imagine. We have ave- time, I believe the ideas the President duced, along with Senator CHUCK nues such as FOX News that get out believes in and the policies he has ad- GRASSLEY, the Grassley-Cruz bill. It content that the mainstream media vanced are profoundly harmful—not a was a law enforcement alternative. In- won’t cover in an effort to provide fair little bit wrong but profoundly harmful stead of restricting the Second Amend- and balanced news. We have talk radio. to this country. ment rights of law-abiding citizens, it God bless talk radio. It is an avenue to You know what. That is a debate we was targeting violent criminals. It was reach out to millions of Americans, can have. That is a policy debate I wel- going after felons and fugitives who and it is able to go right around the come. Has it been good or bad for tried to illegally buy guns. It was going media gatekeepers. We have the Inter- Americans to implement ObamaCare? after those who commit violent crimes net. We have social media. We have Has it been good or bad for Americans with guns. It was going after States Facebook and Twitter. We can dissemi- to see jobs drying up? Has it been good that don’t report mental health records nate information directly. or bad for Americans to see small busi- to the background check system. In the 1950s one could do some proce- nesses not grow anymore? Has it been We just saw a horrific shooting in dural smoke-and-mirrors. One could good or bad for Americans to see Washington, DC. All of us are mourn- hide an obfuscation, and people health insurance premiums sky- ing for the victims and the families wouldn’t know. One of the fascinating rocketing? Has it been good or bad for there. The individual, it appears, had things—and I suspect the Presiding Of- Americans to see more and more people significant mental health issues. The ficer has done this as well as an avid losing their health insurance? That is a Grassley-Cruz bill would have man- student of history—is listening to the debate I am happy to have on the sub- dated significant incentives and pen- old L.B.J. tapes. L.B.J. would be talk- stance. That is an honest debate. The alties for States to get them to report ing to one group on tape and say: I am President embraces that policy. mental health records, because our totally with you. And then he would be I will confess that what produces background mental health system on tape talking to the other side say- more of the cynicism and skepticism doesn’t work if we don’t have the men- ing: I am totally with you. He would toward Washington are the politicians tal health records in them. As of a date tell different groups things that were who don’t have the honest debates and relatively recently—I don’t recall the 180 degrees opposite of each other. He don’t say: You know what. I am not all date off the top of my head but rel- would say one thing to one group and that fond of ObamaCare, but it doesn’t atively recently this year—I believe another thing to another group. They matter enough to me to risk anything there were 18 States that reported 100 were so different, they would never get on it. I care more about staying in of- or fewer records. a chance to reconcile. fice than I do, actually, about fighting The Presiding Officer will recall what I would suggest that in 2013 that is a a fight. So I want to take some sym- happened with that bill, and every lot harder to do. In 2013, if they tell one bolic votes, and I don’t want to risk amendment. We got a majority. A ma- group they are totally with them, you any chance of anyone blaming me for jority of Senators voted for the Grass- better believe the other group will find the downside. ley-Cruz bill. Indeed, nine Democrats out about them. I get why voters are frustrated with voted for the Grassley-Cruz bill. It was In 2013, if a Member votes—I hope that. I get why voters are frustrated the most bipartisan of any of the com- they don’t, but some Republicans with politicians saying one thing and prehensive gun legislation that was might—to give HARRY REID the power doing another. It shouldn’t be com- considered by this body. There was no to fund ObamaCare on a straight par- plicated. Do what you say. It shouldn’t other comprehensive bill that had any- tisan 51-vote threshold, then that be complicated. Stand for your prin- where close to that level of bipartisan Member is voting to fund ObamaCare ciples. If you don’t believe ObamaCare support across the aisle. Yet the Grass- and their constituents are going to should be funded and that Obamacare ley-Cruz bill did not pass into law. It

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.089 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6749 didn’t even get sent over to the House. siding Officer and I both know no Dem- national security. We had over 5,000 Why? Because there was a 60-vote ocrat is going to come join us as long calls from Texans opposing getting us threshold because, effectively, Major- as half the Republican conference is in the middle of that Syrian civil war. ity Leader REID filibustered it. split and throwing rocks at us. There is We had roughly 50 in support of it. I As important as guns are, I think re- no incentive for anyone to do that now. think the percentage in our office at storing jobs and the economy, restor- The only hope of bringing Democrats one point was 99.13 percent of the calls ing economic growth, dealing with the over to join us is if we first unify Re- were against military intervention. train wreck that is ObamaCare, is at publicans. If we get all 46 Republicans We saw something even more incred- least as important to the American to stand together opposing cloture and ible. Everyone said it was a done deal people. The idea that somehow a 60- to say, No, we are not going to let and the Senate was going to vote to ap- vote threshold was OK there but here HARRY REID shut down all amend- prove it. The more the American peo- there has to be a partisan exercise in ments; we are not going to let HARRY ple spoke up, the more people in this brute power in my view is completely REID fund ObamaCare on a straight body began listening, the more some of inconsistent with the traditions of this partisan party-line vote; and then, if those who early on were fans of the great body. But I will note it serves the those Democrats elected in red States military intervention suddenly began purposes of politicians on both sides of begin hearing from their constituents listening to their constituents and say- the aisle. It serves the purposes of in incredible numbers—listen, I will ing, I am not so sure this makes sense. Democrats because most Democrats tell my colleagues, the people of Ar- And then astonishingly, remark- right now still want to preserve kansas, the people of Louisiana, the ably—and I give him credit for this— ObamaCare. people of North Carolina, they under- the President of the United States lis- Most Democrats, in my view, are pri- stand ObamaCare is a train wreck. tened, and the President went before vately getting more and more nervous They would like their Senators to lis- this Nation and asked this body, do not about the train wreck that this is. ten to them. The Presiding Officer and vote on this. I am glad he did, because They are seeing—we can’t go home and I both know, when we start to hear if we had voted, I think at that point it talk to our constituents without seeing from 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 of our was very clear he would have lost the the job loss and the health insurance constituents, it changes our calculus. vote, that Congress would not have premiums going up and people losing If there is one thing the men and voted to authorize military force. The their health insurance. I think most women of this body like, it is to get re- House clearly would have voted against Democratic Senators are nervous about elected. The only way this fight is it and I think there is a good chance it but not yet ready to abandon ship. going to be won is if the American peo- the Senate would have also, although On the Republican side, there is not a ple speak so loudly that the politicians the Senate is a little harder to predict. Republican here who doesn’t enjoy giv- in this body have no choice but to lis- I am glad the President asked us to ing speeches about ObamaCare. We can ten to the people. call off that vote, because I don’t think give speeches, humdingers sometimes. Let me give an example, an example it is good for this country, for Congress But there are more than a few Repub- the Presiding Officer and I spoke about to vote against the Commander in licans who are nervous about actually at the time. About a month ago, we all Chief on issues of national security and doing anything that has a real chance remember that President Obama pub- defending this Nation, so I am glad we of happening, because anytime we take licly announced his intention to launch didn’t have that vote. But I am glad he a stand that has risk, there is downside a unilateral military attack on the na- listened to the American people. to risk. If we hold our ground, if the tion of Syria. When that happened, bi- I want to point out, for everyone who House holds their ground, it is entirely partisan leaders in both the House and says defunding ObamaCare is impos- possible that majority leader HARRY the Senate fairly quickly came out in sible, they are the same voices who REID and President Obama will force a support of that plan. Just about every said stopping the attack on Syria was government shutdown. I don’t think commentator—just about every talk- impossible—the exact same voices, they should. I think it will be a mis- ing head in Washington—said there was graybeards—all of the media. take. But they have said they are will- no chance of stopping it. It was going The only thing that is going to ing to shut the government down in to happen. It was a done deal. It was change the dynamic in this body, the order to force ObamaCare on the Amer- going to happen. In fact, they were the only thing that is going to unite 41 Re- ican people. That has a lot of people on same voices who are saying now, with publicans against cloture, against the Republican side in the conference regard to defunding ObamaCare, it ObamaCare, and to defund ObamaCare, nervous because they think, Well, if can’t be done, accept it, accept it, it is if the voice of the people becomes so President Obama and HARRY REID shut can’t be done, it can’t be done. All of loud it can’t be ignored. The only thing the government down, they will blame those exact voices said about Syria: He that is going to start moving red State it on Republicans and the media will is going to attack, there is nothing we Democrats is if the voice of the people all repeat that attack. The mainstream can do, it will be done. in their States becomes so loud they media, every one of them, will repeat The Presiding Officer and I both cannot be ignored. Ultimately, that is word for word the talking points. It spoke out loudly, saying the President how we win this fight. It comes down will get to the point that the stories we should bring the issue to Congress, and to the people. read in the major newspapers will read I commend the President for listening I would also like to have a bit of a as if they were written by the White to bipartisan calls. That was not easy. discussion on an issue that I would House Press Office. I have no doubt there was significant note the Presiding Officer and Senator But that has been the way of the dissension among his advisers who LEE both care about and are quite ex- world for a long time. So there are Re- didn’t want him to do so, and I com- pert in, which is constitutional law and publicans nervous about, Well, even if mend the President for listening to the separation of powers. We have the President and HARRY REID force a those bipartisan calls. It was the right often seen pundits go on television and shutdown, Republicans will get blamed thing to do. Once he submitted it to they use a phrase that I think is par- and we don’t want the political blame Congress, what happened next the Pre- ticularly asinine. They say, Repub- so we don’t want to fight this fight. In siding Officer and I both know because licans cannot expect to—fill in the fact, a lot of Republicans have gone out we both went home to our respective blank here—defund ObamaCare, cut to the press and said, We can’t win, we States. People in our States were not taxes, push tax reform, have regulatory can’t win, we can’t win. When we have evenly divided on the question of reform—do anything—Republicans can- a lot of Republicans saying we can’t Syria. It wasn’t a close call. I can tell not expect to X because we control just win, that is one way to make it less my colleagues in my office the calls one-half of one-third of the govern- likely we are going to win. literally went 100 to 1 against the ment. The only thing the Republicans It is true if Republicans don’t stand United States launching a unilateral have in Washington is a majority in together on this, we can’t win. Some military attack against Syria and get- the House, and they can’t do anything have asked, Why haven’t Democrats ting involved in that sectarian civil from one-half of one-third of the gov- come over to join us? Listen, the Pre- war in a way that didn’t further our ernment. There is a technical legal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.091 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6750 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 term for that argument: It is poppy- times those on this side of the aisle to be personal and affordable. Right cock. It is complete and utter non- oblige by doing so. But it is not an ar- now, Federal tax laws, Federal laws sense. That is not the way our con- gument that has any basis in the Con- heavily favor employer-provided health stitutional system works. stitution. Is ObamaCare currently the insurance, and that creates some real It is true that Democrats currently law of the land? Of course. It was failures in the market where when have a majority in the Senate and that passed into law, it is in the statute. It someone loses their job, they lose their a Democrat sits in the White House. is on the books. health insurance. We would be better That is true. But the Constitution No one on this side of the aisle has serving, I believe, our constituents if gives different branches different re- argued it is not. We are arguing it health insurance became like car in- sponsibilities and in their respective should not be. That is a very different surance, something that went with you spheres each branch has exceptional thing than saying it is not. regardless of what job you were in. power. So when it comes to ordering Congress has the power of the purse. Mr. KAINE. I say to the Senator, you our military troops into battle, to se- Congress has the power—let me finish engaged in a colloquy with the Senator lecting targets, to making direct deci- this point, and then I am happy to from Illinois about a provision that I sions of military conflict, the Presi- yield for a question. Congress has the wanted to follow up on. dent of the United States is Com- power to appropriate. There is no obli- Prior to the passage of the Affordable mander in Chief, and it does not matter gation for Congress to appropriate, to Care Act, it was completely lawful and, if the President is a Democrat or fund a law that is not working, that in fact, common for insurance compa- whether 535 Members of Congress are evidence and experience—that what the nies to turn down individuals for insur- Republicans. When it comes to being American people are experiencing has ance because of preexisting health con- Commander in Chief, when it comes to demonstrated it is not working. ditions. I do not think—but I want to ordering our troops into battle, to So the House of Representatives in make sure about this—I do not think making decisions in the midst of con- voting to defund ObamaCare, while the Senator was arguing that we ducting war, the Constitution gives the funding the rest of government, is ful- should go back to that day and that we President preeminent authority on filling its constitutional function. If should go back to a status quo where that under article II. this body took up that same gauntlet, children would be turned down for When it comes to adjudicating the kept government funded, never shut health insurance because of preexisting constitutionality of law—one could down government, funded every aspect health care conditions. make arguments about whether this is of government except ObamaCare be- Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator for right—but as a practical matter, the cause it is not working, it is hurting that question. Constitution and modern acceptance the American people, we would be ful- Let me point out that preexisting gives the Supreme Court preeminence filling our constitutional function as conditions and the individual mandate in adjudicating whether a law com- well. of ObamaCare are integrally connected ports with the Constitution. I would (Mr. MURPHY assumed the Chair.) because the way the insurance market note that is true even if five Justices of I would note the Senator from Vir- works—let me take an example that the Court are appointed by a different ginia rose for a question. I am happy to does not deal with health care. Let’s political party, the party that controls yield for a question without yielding talk about fire insurance, fire insur- both Houses of Congress and the Presi- the floor. ance on your home. dency. We could have five Justices ap- Mr. KAINE. I thank the Senator. I suspect both our homes have fire in- pointed by a Democratic President and I would ask the Senator to yield for surance. Imagine if Congress were to 535 Republican Members of Congress a series of questions around two pass a law that says fire insurance and a Republican President. Yet on the issues—first, comments the Senator companies cannot take into account questions of adjudicating the constitu- made earlier about helpful reforms preexisting conditions, such as whether tionality of the law, the Supreme that could be made to the health care the home has already burned down in a Court would still have preeminence and system and, second, the Senator’s com- fire. very significant authority. ments about the need for Members of If that were the law, what any ra- When it comes to appropriations, this body to listen to their constitu- tional person would do—we would both when it comes to the power of the ents. Being in the chair and hearing cancel our fire insurance policies be- purse, when it comes to spending, arti- the Senator, I could not resist but to cause our house had not burned down, cle I of the Constitution gives Congress follow up on those two items. and if it did burn down, we could then preeminence and, in particular, the On the issue of reforms, I understood buy a fire insurance policy and say: House of Representatives. So I will be one of the Senator’s points to be that a Please pay for my house. perfectly honest. If I were to pick one helpful reform might be for Congress to Under that rule, the whole insurance thing for Republicans to have control take up and potentially eliminate the regime collapses because the entire over, particularly when it comes to current prohibition of purchasing in- basis of insurance is you get people funding or defunding something, it surance across State lines. Did I hear whose homes have not burned down to would be the House of Representatives. that correctly? pay relatively small premiums to cre- Every pundit who goes on television Mr. CRUZ. Yes, that is correct. ate a pool of capital that will be used and says, Well, we just control one-half I am happy to yield for a second to compensate—we do not know who, of one-third of the government—what question without yielding the floor. but somebody’s home is going to burn complete and utter nonsense. Not a Mr. KAINE. In addition, I think I un- down. If enough people whose homes single law can pass into law without derstood, and I agree with a comment have not burned down put in money in the House of Representatives. It is a the Senator made about potential re- premiums, there will be a pool to pay necessary but-for. And on questions of forms—that even the whole notion of for whichever unlucky soul faces their spending, the House of Representatives health care provided through employ- home burning down. has preeminence. So this notion that it ers is a little bit of a historical anom- The health insurance market works can’t be done—and a related point. aly that came up in the aftermath of quite similarly. If the rule is simply There are some on the Democratic side World War II. that for anyone, regardless of their of the aisle who make the argument I was not sure if the Senator was sug- medical condition, any insurance com- this is the settled law of the land. Ac- gesting that as part of a health care re- pany has to cover them, no matter cept it already. You guys are bitter form he would want to alter that norm what, then the incentive is the same as enders. We passed it into law. We won of employers providing at least some with fire insurance; that if the Senator a Presidential election again. Game health care provision for their employ- and I are healthy, it is, frankly, irra- over. You lose. ees. tional to get health insurance, if the I understand the political virtue of Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator for rule is, if I get sick, then I can get making that argument. It is always that question. health insurance and they have to good to convince those who disagree What I was suggesting is we should cover me. What you end up with is in- with you to give up their beliefs. Some- do tax reform that encourages policies surance that consists only of people

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.092 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6751 who have sicknesses, who have grave the unintended consequences could be affirmative legislation to reform the diseases, and that bankrupts every in- staggering. health care system—after we get surance plan. If you have a mandate ObamaCare was justified in terms of through this debate—that would be leg- that you cannot take into account wanting to provide insurance for those islation that would not be connected to whether someone is already sick before without insurance. Listen, I would like the question, the existential question, giving them insurance, it means the in- to see those without insurance get of whether the government would con- surance companies go out of business, health insurance. I would like to see a tinue to operate on October 1. So it and what it leads to is what Majority competitive market where low-cost would not be integrally wrapped up Leader REID has argued for—it leads catastrophic policies were attractive to with sort of a threat to the economy ultimately to single-payer government people and they chose to purchase it. that would be posed by a potential gov- health insurance. But one of the best ways for someone ernment shutdown, and it could be ana- Mr. KAINE. Does the Affordable Care to get health insurance is for them to lyzed just on its own merits: Is this a Act require that insurance be provided get a good job, for them to actually good reform or a bad reform, without to folks despite preexisting conditions start making real money, have some being wrapped around the question of at the same rate across the board? disposable income, start climbing the whether we would shut down the gov- Mr. CRUZ. It restricts the terms at economic ladder. ernment and do we lay off or put on which the rates are given. The unintended consequence of some kind of furlough the nurses at Mr. KAINE. So then, to make sure I ObamaCare is it has ended up ham- Fort Belvoir Hospital who are taking understand, the Senator is opposed to mering economic growth, hammering care of wounded warriors every day. the provision in the current Affordable small businesses. So a lot of the people That would be a reform bill where we Care Act that requires insurance com- the law was trying to help have been could dig into the reform and talk panies to write insurance to individ- made worse off. about the reform and analyze what is uals within those limitations, regard- Mr. KAINE. If I could, let me ask: A good and what is bad and what should less of preexisting conditions. reform in the Senator’s view that be fixed and maybe what should not be, Mr. CRUZ. Let me finish my expla- might encompass a different solution without it being wrapped around the nation on that. I will answer the Sen- for the preexisting condition or an end- question of a government shutdown. ator’s question, but I wish to finish the ing of the ban on interstate purchasing Would the Senator not agree with explanation. That is the reason of insurance, if we get through this that? ObamaCare includes the individual week and we are into next week and Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator from mandate. Because, to use the fire ex- ObamaCare has not been defunded and Virginia. ample again, it would be the equivalent we have funded government operations I would certainly agree that this of, if you are saying you have to issue going forward, the Senator could intro- body should spend considerable time a fire policy to anyone regardless of duce a reform bill proposing to do just working, and working together, on whether their house has already burned those things, could he not? positive, proactive health care reforms, down, it would be the equivalent of Mr. CRUZ. I thank the Senator for to expand competition, to empower pa- saying we are requiring everyone who that question. tients. has a house to buy a policy. Because I could. I will confess, our policy I also agree with something else the that is the only way you prevent the team is working on a number of affirm- Senator from Virginia said, which is insurance market from being bankrupt. ative health insurance reform policies. that we should not be threatening a So the individual mandate, the rea- I will confess—and for some reason government shutdown. I do not want a son ObamaCare says we are forcing ev- we are kind of going with the home fire government shutdown. I want the gov- eryone to buy insurance—whether you analogy, so let’s stick with it right ernment to continue. want to or not—is because of the pre- now. There are some who, in the course I salute the House of Representatives existing condition. of health care matters, argue that the for passing a continuing resolution Now listen, my view on preexisting heavy focus of those of us who are op- that keeps the government funded. But conditions is we ought to reform the posed to ObamaCare should be what is it also defunds ObamaCare. In my view, market to deal with that problem. I do the alternative, that should be the that is responsive to the suffering that not think ObamaCare is the right solu- heavy focus. Listen, I absolutely think so many millions of Americans are ex- tion. I think ObamaCare is the wrong the health care system needs reforms periencing—to the loss of jobs, to being solution. I think we ought to defund it to change real problems in it. I am a forced into part-time work, to facing all now. I think we ultimately ought to strong believer in that. higher health insurance premiums, to repeal it in its entirety. But an analogy I have used before is, losing their health insurance. But on preexisting conditions, I will if your home is on fire, you put out the Mr. KAINE. I ask the Senator, would point out, No. 1, if you have an issue— fire first before building an addition to he not agree that the best way to avoid and there have been issues with insur- the house. Likewise, with ObamaCare, a government shutdown or threats of a ance companies acting in bad faith, I think ObamaCare is such a train government shutdown or talking about with insurance companies dropping wreck, is such a disaster that the first the consequences of a government someone when they get sick, and I imperative is to stop the damage from shutdown would be to separate out his think there the legal system should ObamaCare. Then I think we should question of what are the right reforms work to prevent that. If you have pur- work, and I would like it to be in a bi- of the health care system from the chased insurance, if you have paid your partisan way. The Senator and I have funding of government operations? premiums, your company should not be talked many times about how we could Mr. CRUZ. I certainly agree with the dropping you when you become sick. I work together. We have yet to find a Senator from Virginia that we should think there is a vital role for State in- great opportunity to do so. But I am stop holding hostages. So an ideal surance regulators to be involved there hopeful that will change because I way—and I had an earlier exchange and for our contract and tort system— would like to see us listen to our con- with Senator ENZI from Wyoming, who the legal system—to be involved. stituents and work constructively to pointed out that the entire reason we I think if we move toward changing fix the problems that hard-working are having this continuing resolution the Federal tax laws to make health Americans are struggling with. battle is because Congress failed in its insurance policies portable, personal, it When it comes to introducing affirm- job to pass appropriations bills. will go a long way to solving the prob- ative health care legislation, I fully an- For example, the House of Represent- lem of preexisting conditions. I am not ticipate our team will do so, and we are atives has passed a Defense appropria- maintaining it will solve it in every in- working on proposals now. As the Sen- tions bill. It is sitting here in the Sen- stance 100 percent of the time. It is ator knows well, our having been here ate. Majority Leader REID has not very difficult to come up with a Fed- just 9 months, it has not been a quiet taken it up. I think we should take it eral rule that will address 100 percent 9 months. up and pass it immediately so that any of the inequitable circumstances one Mr. KAINE. I say to the Senator, if discussion of government shutdowns could come up with, and if we tried to we get to that point and he introduces does not in any way, shape or form

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:12 Sep 25, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24SE6.093 S24SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S6752 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2013 even remotely threaten the salary of who is risking his or her life to defend military regardless of what happens on the men and women of our military. I the rest of us find their compensation, the continuing resolution, regardless of am confident the Senator and I agree, their salary threatened. if we had a partial temporary shut- under no circumstances should anyone In my view, existing law allows and down. even requires the President to fund the

N O T I C E Incomplete record of Senate proceedings. Except for concluding business which follows, today’s Senate proceedings will be continued in the next issue of the Record.

MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT suant to law, a report entitled, ‘‘Audit of the EC–3116. A communication from the Sec- Department of Employment Services Work- retary of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to Messages from the President of the force Development Monitoring and Quality law, a report entitled ‘‘Hydrogen and Fuel United States were communicated to Assurance Procedures’’; to the Committee on Cell Activities, Progress and Plans’’; to the the Senate by Mr. Pate, one of his sec- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Committee on Energy and Natural Re- retaries. fairs. sources. f EC–3109. A communication from the Asso- EC–3117. A communication from the Ad- ciate Attorney General Counsel for General ministrator of the Environmental Protection EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED Law, Department of Homeland Security, Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, an As in executive session the Presiding transmitting, pursuant to law, a report rel- annual report relative to the implementa- Officer laid before the Senate messages ative to a vacancy in the position of Sec- tion of the Formaldehyde Standards for retary, Office of the Secretary, Department Composite Wood Products Act; to the Com- from the President of the United of Homeland Security, received in the Office mittee on Environment and Public Works. States submitting sundry nominations of the President of the Senate on September EC–3118. A communication from the Pro- which were referred to the appropriate 20, 2013; to the Committee on Homeland Se- gram Manager, Centers for Medicare and committees. curity and Governmental Affairs. Medicaid Services, Department of Health (The messages received today are EC–3110. A communication from the Archi- and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant printed at the end of the Senate pro- vist of the United States, National Archives to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Medi- ceedings.) and Records Administration, transmitting, care Program; Obtaining Final Medicare pursuant to law, a report relative to the Ad- Secondary Payer Conditional Payment f ministration’s Fiscal Year 2013 Commercial Amounts via Web Portal’’ (RIN0938–AR90) re- EXECUTIVE AND OTHER Activities Inventory and Inherently Govern- ceived in the Office of the President of the COMMUNICATIONS mental Inventory; to the Committee on Senate on September 19, 2013; to the Com- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- mittee on Finance. The following communications were fairs. EC–3119. A communication from the Acting laid before the Senate, together with EC–3111. A communication from the Chair- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- accompanying papers, reports, and doc- man of the Council of the District of Colum- partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to uments, and were referred as indicated: bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the on D.C. Act 20–157, ‘‘Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–121); to EC–3103. A communication from the Acting Support Act of 2013’’; to the Committee on the Committee on Foreign Relations. Senior Procurement Executive, Office of Ac- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- EC–3120. A communication from the Acting quisition Policy, General Services Adminis- fairs. Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- tration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the EC–3112. A communication from the Con- partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to report of a rule entitled ‘‘Federal Acquisi- gressional Review Coordinator, Animal and law, a report relative to section 36(d) of the tion Regulation; Repeal of the Sunset for Plant Health Inspection Service, Department Arms Export Control Act (RSAT–13–3561); to Certain Protests of Task or Delivery Order of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Contracts’’ (RIN9000–AM16) received in the law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Importa- EC–3121. A communication from the Acting Office of the President of the Senate on Au- tion of Mangoes from Australia into the Con- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- gust 1, 2013; to the Committee on Homeland tinental United States’’ ((RIN0579–AD52) partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to Security and Governmental Affairs. (Docket No. APHIS–2011–0040)) received in law, a report relative to section 36(d) of the EC–3104. A communication from the Direc- the Office of the President of the Senate on Arms Export Control Act (RSAT–13–3517); to tor of the International Broadcasting Bu- September 20, 2013; to the Committee on Ag- the Committee on Foreign Relations. reau, Broadcasting Board of Governors, riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC–3122. A communication from the Acting transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board’s EC–3113. A communication from the Assist- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- fiscal year 2013 Federal Activities Inventory ant General Counsel, General Law, Ethics, partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to Reform (FAIR) Act submission of its com- and Regulation, Department of the Treasury, law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the mercial and inherently governmental activi- transmitting, pursuant to law, a report rel- Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–127); to ties; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- ative to a vacancy in the position of Deputy the Committee on Foreign Relations. rity and Governmental Affairs. Secretary, received in the Office of the Presi- EC–3123. A communication from the Acting EC–3105. A communication from the Spe- dent of the Senate on September 23, 2011; to Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- cial Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruc- the Committee on Banking, Housing, and partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the In- Urban Affairs. law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the spector General for Iraq Reconstruction’s EC–3114. A communication from the Asso- Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–125); to final report to Congress; to the Committee ciate General Counsel for Legislation and the Committee on Foreign Relations. on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Regulations, Office of the Secretary, Depart- EC–3124. A communication from the Acting fairs. ment of Housing and Urban Development, Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- EC–3106. A communication from the Dis- transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to trict of Columbia Auditor, transmitting, pur- a rule entitled ‘‘Supplemental Standards of law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the suant to law, a report entitled, ‘‘Audit of the Ethical Conduct for Employees of the De- Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–089); to Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Edu- partment of Housing and Urban Develop- the Committee on Foreign Relations. cation Program Fund for Fiscal Years 2008– ment; Correction to Standards Governing EC–3125. A communication from the Acting 2010’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- Prohibited Financial Interests’’ (RIN2501– Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- rity and Governmental Affairs. AD61) received in the Office of the President partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to EC–3107. A communication from the Dis- of the Senate on September 23, 2013; to the law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the trict of Columbia Auditor, transmitting, pur- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–079); to suant to law, a report entitled, ‘‘Fiscal Year Affairs. the Committee on Foreign Relations. 2012 Annual Report on Advisory Neighbor- EC–3115. A communication from the Chair- EC–3126. A communication from the Acting hood Commissions’’; to the Committee on man and President of the Export-Import Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Bank, transmitting, pursuant to law, a re- partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to fairs. port relative to transactions involving U.S. law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the EC–3108. A communication from the Dis- exports to Norway; to the Committee on Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–122); to trict of Columbia Auditor, transmitting, pur- Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. the Committee on Foreign Relations.

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