Senate Proceeding on Apr 28th, 2009 :: 0:44:40 to 0:53:50
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0:44:30 to 0:44:52( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: quorum call: mr. bennett: i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be dis objection, so ordered. mr. bennett: mr. president, we are in the midst of a nomination, discussion, and that takes place in the midst of a health care discussion. the house and senate conferees last night struck an agreement on the budget resolution that

0:44:40 to 0:53:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Robert Bennett

0:44:53 to 0:45:13( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: will clear the way for final votes later this week that includes reconciliation instructions for health care and student loan reforms quite controversial.now we're told that the reconciliation would not be used until after

0:45:14 to 0:45:35( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: might find that reassuring. i'm not one of those who does. because if we're going to deal with the health care problem, we must recognize that it is enormously complex. health care spending is projected to be 17.6% of our g.d.p., which is nearly one hfer

0:45:36 to 0:45:56( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: fifth of our economy, and a -- which is near economy, and a bill dealing with that is going to have to be scoabd by the c.b.o. before any committee can report it out. at the moment there is only one bill with respect that has received a c.b.o. score. it is the bill offered by

0:45:57 to 0:46:17( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: senator wyden and myself, along with 12 cosponsors healthy americans act. it has the t been scored by the c.b.o. has revenue-neutral during its first two years and then saving money for the federal government thereafter. with both republicans and democrats,

0:46:18 to 0:46:38( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: it would seem to me that this would be the bill from which we begin our discussions in a truly bipartisan manner and that would not require the straitjacket of reconciliation to make it possible for the majority to move ahead. we have a s we have a framework.

0:46:39 to 0:47:00( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: we have language. it is not perfect. even some of the cosponsors have indicated if -- in form they might vote against it. but at least it's a place to begin. it's a place to start conversation. and we do not need the kind of

0:47:01 to 0:47:22( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: enforcement of majority rights that reconciliation would give us. now,o with a proposal from the administration would mean that a bill has to be draed -- something we've already done; the bill would have to be

0:47:23 to 0:47:43( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: referred to c.b.o. -- something we've already done; c.b.o. would have to go through the difficulties of scoring it, an enormous challenge. i don't believe that they would be able to get all that done in a timely fashion, and would be told on the floor, well, we've run out of time.

0:47:44 to 0:48:04( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: we have to deal with health care. we're going to move reconciliation as the way to jam the thing through in a hurry. let us understand right here in the beginning that that kind of activity is not required. now, let us turn to governor kathleen sebelius and her role

0:48:05 to 0:48:25( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: with respect to the health care debate. my normal pattern has always been to say that the president has the right to whomever he wants and that i have not voted against presidential nominees unless i felt that they were completely inappropriate or

0:48:26 to 0:48:46( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: incapable of carrying out their duties. i have respect for governor sebeli. i think she is a valuable and potentially productive appointment for the president, but i have reluctantly come to the conclusion that she is the wrong appointee for particular assignment.

0:48:47 to 0:49:08( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: she has backed a partisan process for health care reform. she refuses safeguards and comparative effectiveness research and, perhaps most strongly for she has already endorsed a government-run public health care plan, something that i

0:49:09 to 0:49:31( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: would have to vote against. i think most of my colleagues, if not all of my co the republican side, would vote against it, notor partisan reasons but for the flat that it doesn't work. we've seen examples of that throughout the world, and we understand that it doesn't work.

0:49:32 to 0:49:53( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: i have constituents who have relatives and friends in canada who come to me and sa say, based on our experience with our relatives and friends in canada, we absolutely do not want a canadian sys this is just an anecdote, but illustrative of the kind of thing that goes on in the

0:49:54 to 0:50:15( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: ration care by they don't ration it by regulation; they simply ration it by delaying the ability of people to get access. and, as it's been reported to me, if you can demonstrate, as you go into the canadian system, that there's some problem related to heart disease, you

0:50:16 to 0:50:37( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: get moved to the head of the line. and so some of my constituents have told me that their relatives in canada have discovered that if they go to see a doctor with a cold or with the flu or with some other problem, they always say, and this threatens my potential for heart disease in an effort to

0:50:38 to 0:50:58( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: get ahead of the line and move forward in the canadian system that would otherwise delay their access to a doctor. if you haven't learned that trick, you wait for three months, six months, whatever. this is the kind of government-run public health plan that governor sebelius has indicated her support for.

0:50:59 to 0:51:23( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: there's also the troubling problem that she failed to disclose relevant information to the finance committee with respect to her taxes. we've had that happen with other cabinet nominations, and it has become something of a cause celebre with many americans who are following

0:51:24 to 0:51:44( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: it's become the but the of jokes on the late--- it's become the butt of jokes on the late-night talk shows. she's also been less-than-forthcoming with respect to her relationships with some of her donors. all of us have the need to raise political money, and many times we look at the list of those

0:51:45 to 0:52:06( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: who've made donations to us and say, well, i wasn't quite aware he was going to make the donation, but as long as he's made the donation and as long as it's understood that i'm not going to do anything for him, why, i'll report it and respond to any situation arise.

0:52:07 to 0:52:27( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: she had a political relationship with a doctor who was involved in partial-birth very obviously anxious to see to it that he had access to public officials who would support him in that. that's an issue that bears a great deal -- that carries a

0:52:28 to 0:52:49( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: great deal of influence with my constituents, and it's another one that troubles so, while i think governor sebelius might be well-qualified for some other position, i do this position. problems, the secretary of health ansecretary ofheal and human services is a

0:52:50 to 0:53:11( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: key player in helping us solve this problem, and she carries little bit too much baggage, i believe, for this particular assignment. so, mr. president, once again w have the framework for a bipartisan solution. it can be the beginning point of the discussion. a bill has been written around

0:53:12 to 0:53:32( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: it, and it has been scored by the c.b.o. why don't we start with that instead of threatening reconciliation for a whole new program that might start with the administration. i thank the chair and yield t floor. the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire. mr. gregg: i understand the senator from new york wishes to

0:53:33 to 0:53:50( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Bennett: be recognized for five mrs. gillibrand: yes. mr. gregg: i'd ask unanimous consent that after the senator from new york is recognized for five minutes, i be recognized for 10 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from new york. mrs. gillibrand: i ask unanimous consent that i be allowed to speak for up to five minutes in morning business and that senator gregg be recognized after my remarks. the presiding officer: without