Senate Proceeding on Oct 1st, 2009 :: 3:33:00 to 3:38:05
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3:32:57 to 3:33:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: states and help them adjust to providing dmaid so urgently needed by their urgently needed by their population. thank you, mr. president. mr. reed: mr. president? the presiding officer: the gentleman from rhode island is recognized.

3:33:00 to 3:38:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jack Reed

3:33:20 to 3:33:42( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: mr. reed: i want to thank senators for their accurate description of the situation that faces several states. throughout this country, there is a crisis on employment, but in states like michigan and oregon and rhode island, it's a catastrophe. 12% unemployment in rhode island. as my colleague pointed out, that's just the official numbers. that's not those people who have given up and are not counted.

3:33:43 to 3:34:04( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: that's not those people who are are -- are sort of looking for work unsuccessfully and not, you know, finding it. it is a situation that is, i think, extremely difficult the state and the families of rhode island. we are engaged in a very serious debate about health care reform.

3:34:05 to 3:34:26( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: there seems to be a consensus that the status quo won't work, ye our proposals to change it are dismissed without, i think, of an alternative. in effect, our colleagues on the other side are simply saying the status for us.

3:34:27 to 3:34:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: i don't think we can do that. i think we have to make changes, and i think we have to make those changes that recognize not only also the overall economic system. one of the impetuses for this reform is not just access and affordability to health care. it's the economic future of the

3:34:48 to 3:35:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: country. and again, in those states like rhode island and michigan and nevada and others, this is an issue that is incredibly important to us. we understand also, too, that some states have taken a much more aggressive approach to

3:35:10 to 3:35:30( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: their medicaid population, that they have tried to enroll as many people as they could, that they recognize a higher level of poverty, one that is, i think, going to be recognized in this reform, but effectively these states, unless they are g some help, will be punished for

3:35:31 to 3:35:52( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: being ahead of their colleagues, for trying to extend health care coverage before ready to do that. and in that sense, i think we have to also recognize the to support the medicaid program and also support particularly those states that are in this

3:35:53 to 3:36:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: economic catastrophe. we, as senator whitehouse pointed out, routinely come together and recognize the special needs of regions and states. wildfires in california. agri throughout the middle of the country and elsewhere.

3:36:14 to 3:36:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: and the great crisis of to say now that we cannot recognize something that is straightforwardly -- extraord several states, including my own ofhode island, is neglecting what we do here on a relatively routine basis, and i think we

3:36:38 to 3:36:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: have to recognize that. the other factor, too, is that some of the criticism directed at proposals that haveeen made in the finance committee have been made by govnors who say you can't shift the burden to us, and it is particularly the case in rhode island. we are facing, along with california and practically every

3:37:00 to 3:37:20( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: other state, significant prices in in state funding. and if we give them responsibilities without resources at a time of this great unemployment crisis, it would add a further burden to them. so we would be sort of think not only

3:37:21 to 3:37:44( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: the economic situation, but as i suggested before punished for our good deeds, which is to try to incorporate more people into our medicaid system. we have to, i think, support this approach. in fact, committee and senator baucus for considering this issue. this isritical.

3:37:45 to 3:38:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jack Reed: again, be in a situation where unemployment could confidently be seen in the future as not a factor in the support for states, but we know it is going to be, and the support that the chairman and the members of the finance committee have given is appropriate, and i strongly