Senate Proceeding on Oct 29th, 2009 :: 1:00:00 to 1:08:50
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0:59:50 to 1:00:10( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: p mr. roberts: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from kansas is recognized. mr. roberts: mr. president, i understand that i am allotted 10 minus in this morning business period. is that corre? the presiding officer: the senator is correct. mr. roberts: i am do my very best to make it within 10 minutes. mr. president, i rise today to

1:00:00 to 1:08:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Pat Roberts

1:00:11 to 1:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: share my concerns about the tax increases called for in the health care reform bill that is now being finalized behind closed doors -- i can almost see them. i want to make sure the american people truly understand that these tax increases will -- what they will mean for them and their families. this bill calls for an

1:00:35 to 1:00:55( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: incredible and llion in taxes, in massive new taxes, taxes that will fall on the average american who already knows that their tax burden is too high. now, we hear a lot about the efforts hiefnedz tefforts behind the closed doors to merger the three bills and

1:00:56 to 1:01:18( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: all the costs and all the efforts to get more voters on board. but we don't really hear much about the tax increases, and they really shouldake the taxpayers sit up and take noti. the behind-the-doors crowd have tried to disguise some of the new taxes in this bill by presenting them as being paid

1:01:19 to 1:01:41( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: for by targeted health care industries. however, the relate city that the average americans -- the reality is that the average americans who purchase health insurance and use medical services from prescription drugs to hearing aids are the ones that will foot the bill for this tax and this spending spree. the higher taxes called nor this bill will come straight out of

1:01:42 to 1:02:02( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: americans' pocketbooks. now, americans have taxpayers, and americans have the right to know -- they havknow, they have the right to be informed, and they have the right to understand, and they have the right to be heard -- not only on the spending, not only on the health care reform bill, but in regards to the

1:02:03 to 1:02:24( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: taxes that they will pay. let me give you just a few examples of the new taxes called for and who will actually pay them. the bill imposes a 40% excise tax on health insurance providers that offer high-cost health insance plans. this provision is the largest tax high hike in the bill. it raises $201 billion.

1:02:25 to 1:02:45( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: of this amount, an analysis by the joint committee on taxation -- or the j.c.t. -- finds that more than 80% of the $164 billion of the tax will come payroll taxes on higher wages. when the bill is implemented,

1:02:46 to 1:03:07( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: however, the excise tax is likely to hit 40% of american families, so the reality is that these families, not the insurance provider, will be on the hook for the $164 billion. the bill raises taxes on those who pay for their health care out of pocket by raising the flr for deducting catastrophic

1:03:08 to 1:03:31( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: medical expenses from 7.5% to 10% of adjusted gross income. now, those who take this deduction are most often seniors and those with serious medical issues. 87% of taxpayers who claim this deduction have income under $100,000. while an amendment to exempt

1:03:32 to 1:03:53( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: taxpayers 65 or older from the higher threshold was approved in committee -- thank goodness -- but, don't be fooled, the exemption is only in in effect in the first three years. in the following years, roughly 50%. taps taxpayers -- roughly 50% of the taxpayers affected about be 65.

1:03:54 to 1:04:14( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: the bill raises taxes on the americans who participate in flexible spending accounts. the median income of a flexible spending account participant is $55,000. now, this program is a very important benefit for many families for whom health insurance does not cover or does not sufficiently cover some of

1:04:15 to 1:04:35( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: the highest cost health care expenses such as dental, vision, and also prescription drug costs. they're also important for individuals who manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. the f.s.a.'s allow participants to set aside money out of their pockets to pay for these

1:04:36 to 1:04:56( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: necessary expenses. however, under this bill, the government caps how much can be set aside in a flexible spending account -- the person's account -- effectively raising the tax burden on certain f.s.a. participants and increasing their health care costs. typical of a disguised tax in this bill. another tax attack:

1:04:57 to 1:05:19( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: it also eliminates the ability of individuals to use money from their accounts -- the f.s.a. accounts -- to purchase over-the-counter medications. here we are trying to put downward pressure on health care costs rather than maintaining current law that gives consumers the option to purchase over-the-counteredications through a flexible spending dhat

1:05:20 to 1:05:41( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: they had chosen to put money into. the bill instead directs them to more costly alternatives and increased use of the health care system and limits the consumer's ability to fully use their own accounts. another example of the stealth taxes called for in this bill is the individual mandate penalty. although the president has said this penalty is not a tax, t

1:06:03 to 1:06:24( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: will have incomes between $22,000 and $68,000 for a family of four. this penalty essentially means that the i.r.s. will now tax you if you don't buy a health care plan approved by the government. let me repeat that. this penalty essentially means that the i.r.s. will now tax you if you don't buy a health care

1:06:25 to 1:06:47( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: plan approved by the government. now, this bill also expand the reach of the i.r.s. even further into the lives of ordinary americans, allowing them to collect more information than ever before ab you and your health care choices in order to

1:06:48 to 1:07:09( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: tax you based on these choices. this is disturbing. the increased role, mr. president, that the i.r.s. will play in the lives and health care choices of every american. under this bill, the i.r.s. will gain unprecedented new power. but here's the clencher. here's the clencher.

1:07:10 to 1:07:30( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: up straight in your chairs. there's no money to pay for the expansion of the i.r.s. it will hav occur for the i.r.s. to implement and enforce these provisions, "enforce." how much will it cost? how many billions will be needed to pay for this growth in government? how many more will the i.r.s.

1:07:31 to 1:07:51( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: have to hire? we have no idea. the i.r.s. will be playing a bigger role in each american's life and health care decisions. question for all those who braved the town hall meetings -- mostly over here, not over there -- everyone who wants more i.r.s. involvement in their lives, raise your hand.

1:07:52 to 1:08:13( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: i don't think in those town hall meetings, you'll hear many hand clapping. not only will americans face massive new taxes, they will also see an unprecedented expansion of the internal revenue service and a further reach of ghost their lives. this is the wrong solution to health care reform. americans are looking for real reform that preserves their

1:08:14 to 1:08:29( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: health care choices. but reform that comes with ads 500 billion tax increase and supervised, if not more, by the internal revenue service is simply not the answer. thank you, mr. president. i yield back the balance of my

1:08:46 to 1:08:51( Edit History Discussion )

Pat Roberts: time. mr. roberts: i note the gentleman from utah.