Senate Proceeding on Oct 7th, 2009 :: 0:58:35 to 1:06:50
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0:58:31 to 0:58:51( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: president has promised. mr. presiden floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee is recognized.

0:58:35 to 1:06:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Corker

0:58:52 to 0:59:14( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: mr. corker: do i have allocated? the presiding officer: there are nine minutes remaining. mr. corker: i want to rise also today to speak about the debate before the congress right now which is health care reform, and i want to say that i believe we need health reform in this country and health insurance reform in this country and, love to see us embark on a set

0:59:15 to 0:59:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: of time-tested, budget-neutral principles. i absolutely believe that we ought to address the issue of pre-existing conditions. i absolutely believe tt ought to -- to look at exchanges where citizens all across this country have access to the same kind of choices that i have as a united states senator.

0:59:38 to 0:59:58( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: i hope we'll address the issue of cross-state competion where people in states are not just stuck into the choices that exist because of the that occur within their state boundaries, but i'd love to see some cross-state competion. mr. president, i absolutely li code change.

0:59:59 to 1:00:19( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: i think we ought to limit the amount of tax-free benefits that an individual can receive from their employer. i'll throw out a number. if that number were established at $17,000, for insta about $350 billion would be generated over a 10-year period that could be used as a voucher

1:00:20 to 1:00:41( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: or refundable tax credit to enable 15 million to 20 million americans to be able to access private, affordable, quality insurance. i think we ought to address tort reform. we know there's so much in the way of medical procedures that are done, in essence, to count arer -- to be defensive medicine so that they're not sued or the

1:00:42 to 1:01:03( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: victims of junk lawsuits. so, mr. president, i want to say that i'm one o that absolutely believes that it's time in this country that we had certain health reforms and health insurance reforms, and i think now is the time to debate and put in place those

1:01:04 to 1:01:24( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: sensible, time-tested reforms. my guess is, mr. president, if we sat down in a bipartisan way, which i know is not occurring at this moment, that we could go 50 yards down the field in a way to americans in our cou all of us want to see. and, again, do so in a way that doesn't push off costs in the

1:01:25 to 1:01:45( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: future generations. but, mr. president, i have serious problems with what is being discussed in the finance committee today as, we're going to pay for the reforms that go beyond what i just discussed. in many cases very unnecessary. and let me just go over a couple

1:01:46 to 1:02:06( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: of those. numb are aware by now that the senate finance committee's mark is basically causing states to have an unfunded liability. the governor on the other side of the aisle, just sent me a letter yesterday and told me that

1:02:07 to 1:02:28( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: revenues in the state of tennessee to be at 2008 levels in the y in other words, there's been a tremendous decrease in revenues for state government. and, yet, per the mark that is befo today, they are pushing off on

1:02:29 to 1:02:49( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: the citizens of our state a $735 mlion unfunded liability. now, that doesn't sound like a lot of money here in washington, but i can assure you of money for thetate of tennessee. and, as you can imagine, as the years go out that number increases tremendously. mr. president, it's my belief

1:02:50 to 1:03:11( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: that there are states all across this country that are going to be coming pushing off an issue to the state. i think that's incredibly irresponsible. and i think we need to ensure thathat does not occur. but, mr. president, i have to tell you, an issue that

1:03:12 to 1:03:34( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: haven't -- i have an even greater problem with is the fact that we all know that we have a $40 trillion unfunded liability as it relates to medicare. two or three years ago there was broad consensus on a bipartisan basis that we needed to address the unfunded liability that

1:03:35 to 1:03:55( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: threatens our country under the entitlement programs, mostly medicare, which is $40 trillion. what this b takes $400 billio to $500 billion from medicare, and uses it to create a new entitlement.

1:03:56 to 1:04:17( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: instead of doing those things that would which the trustees have said is going to be insolvent in the year 2017, instead of doing that, which is the responsible thing for us to be focused on today, this finance committee mark would take money from a program

1:04:18 to 1:04:39( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: use it entitlement program. mr. presint, i think that is the most irresponsible, shortsighted thing that this congress can do. in addition to that, mr. presiden i with the issue of s.g.r., or the doc fix.

1:04:40 to 1:05:01( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: i think that for -- all of us know that for doctors and providers to make the same money in 10 years that they're making today would cost $285 billion. but instead of dealing with that issue, that is -- the can is being kicked down the road and we're not dealing with that. mr. president, i t

1:05:02 to 1:05:22( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: american people respect, and i re before us that are called the greatest generation. sometimes they're called the greatest generation because of the sacrifices, military efforts overseas. sometimes it's because they say and made those tough choice that helped to make this country great.

1:05:23 to 1:05:43( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: but, m president, i believe that if this congress -- if this congress acts to take money from medicare, which is insolvent, and doesn't savings to make medicare more solvent, we will b contributing to the fact that there's no

1:05:44 to 1:06:04( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: doubt in my mind the leadership -- the political leadership that exists today in this country is undoubtedly the most the most selfish political leadership that this country has ever seen. we're witnessing that today. we're part of that today. and it's my belief if we

1:06:05 to 1:06:26( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: continue to throw future generations under is what we're doing with legislation that's bng proposed today, we are throwing future generations under the bus to score a political victory that we all know is not paid for. the wrath of the american people

1:06:27 to 1:06:48( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: is going to c should. th the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. a senator: mr. president -- mr. corker: mr. president, i'd

1:06:49 to 1:06:50( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Corker: like -- since there is no one