Senate Proceeding 07-15-08 on Jul 15th, 2008 :: 3:19:49 to 3:22:02
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3:17:31 to 3:19:49( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Debbie Stabenow

3:19:41 to 3:19:49( Edit History Discussion )

Debbie Stabenow: is all about. and we stand with you to strengthen it, to add to the services available and to modernize it for the future. i urge a strong bipartisan vote to override this president's a vote veto.

3:19:49 to 3:20:01( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: the presiding officer: the assistant majority leader. mr. durbin: i ask to besk recogn ized for two minutes. the presiding officer: without objection.ct mr. durbin: mr. president, we have an opportunity

3:19:49 to 3:22:02( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Richard Durbin

3:20:01 to 3:20:12( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: once every decade, maybe once every generation to aaffirm our commitment to some of the most fundamental values in this country. the medicare is not just another government program. the medicare program said

3:20:12 to 3:20:24( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: in the early 1960's that the united states was committed to our senior citizens andit that that commitment involved making certain that they would always have access to affordable, quality health

3:20:24 to 3:20:36( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: care. there were many at the time who were skeptical and said it was too much government. it's socialism. it goes too far. well, thank goodness their voices were drowned out by reason. the understanding

3:20:36 to 3:20:46( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: without this protection, seniors could lose every penny they would save to a medical crisis. medica re passed. and it worked. the proof of its success is the fact that senior citizens now live longer

3:20:46 to 3:20:58( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: than ever because of the quality of health care they have available through medicare. skeptics have returned and said, well, let's get rid of that system. what we ought to do is bring in privat e health

3:20:58 to 3:21:07( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: care insurance companies. they call it medicare advantage. we let them try over the last 10 years or so and they tried at considerably more expense are not offering benefits ass good as basic medicare.

3:21:07 to 3:21:19( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: ic this bill that we're going to consider overriding the president's veto on very shortly say that's some of the money they've taken out of the system and out of the program has to be returned to taxpayers.

3:21:19 to 3:21:33( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: that's fair. fair competence for doctors, make certain that medicare is there for the seniors who need. it make certain that tricare is kept up to dateke in reimbursement. but most important, this

3:21:33 to 3:22:02( Edit History Discussion )

Richard Durbin: vote today on overriding president bush's ill-fated veto is a reaffirmation of how important medicare is to america's future. it was a strong bipartisan vote of 69 w ho voted just a week or so ago in favor

3:22:02 to 3:22:12( Edit History Discussion )

of this measure. i hope that the vote today in the senate reflects an even stronger bipartisan commitment to the future of medicare. i yield theld floor.or the presiding officer: who yields time? mr.