Senate Proceeding on Jun 12th, 2008 :: 0:35:52 to 0:45:36
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0:33:29 to 0:35:52( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Harry Reid

0:35:42 to 0:35:52( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: chairman of the judiciary committee, who is the biggest proponent in congress of opec being able to be subject to antitrust laws, tell him that it's ludicrous. i say to the republican leader, tell

0:35:52 to 0:36:02( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: arlen specter that it is ludicrous to go after opec. those are the words of the republican leader. and finally, mr. president, here is what they want to do on global warming. he said, this orwellian

0:35:52 to 0:45:36( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles Schumer

0:36:02 to 0:36:11( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: verbiage we've heard this morning, they want to do something on global warming. mr. president, here is what they want to do about global warming. e-mail on the republican strategy that we obtained

0:36:11 to 0:36:18( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: says -- and i quote -- "the focus is much more on making political points than amending the bill." that's what they said. it continues, "g.o.p. anticipates a struggle over which amendments are debated

0:36:18 to 0:36:30( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: and eventually finger pointing overg blame for demblise of the bill. the bottom line is g.o.p." -- that's the republicans, "very much want to have this fight, engage in it for a long period and then

0:36:30 to 0:36:43( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: make it as difficult as possible to move off the bill. the focus is much more on making political points than amending the bill." il the american people aren't confused, mr. president. the presiding

0:36:43 to 0:36:55( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. under the previous order, the t senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to s. 3101, which the clerk will report.

0:36:55 to 0:37:03( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: the clerk: motion to proceed to calendar number 772, 2, a bill to amendme the title of the social security act and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: the senator from new york.

0:37:03 to 0:37:12( Edit History Discussion )

om mr. schumer: i come here to speak on the medicare bill but i must make a few remarks pertaining to the conversation between the majority and minority leaders. the bottom line is very simple. they

0:37:12 to 0:37:20( Edit History Discussion )

haven't said -- offered amendments. they have said we will not proceed to the bill. when the majity leader, senator reid, says it's orwellian, of course it is. and in every instance when the minority has come

0:37:20 to 0:37:35( Edit History Discussion )

and said we'll do amendments related to the specifics of the issue at hand, the majority leader has been more than accommodating, rankling even some on our side. but they don't want to do that. senator reid

0:37:35 to 0:37:52( Edit History Discussion )

read the memo. they want to slow the bill down with extraneous amendments that have nothing to do with energy, because they don't want to allow a vote, even on anwr. now, my friend from kentucky talks about

0:37:52 to 0:38:01( Edit History Discussion )

anwr is the answer. even the most optimistic experts say it will be seven years before we get a drop of that oil. sohe minority leader and the minority is saying wait seven years, and maybe we'll get

0:38:01 to 0:38:15( Edit History Discussion )

oil prices down. we don't want to wait that long. in seven years we could have an energy policy that weans us away in part from fossil fuels in a significant and serious way, like is being done in europe

0:38:15 to 0:38:27( Edit History Discussion )

and other places. they don't want to do that. they don't want to do that because big oil dominates. they don't want to do that becaus their base says drill in anwr, and the people say no. and this idea

0:38:27 to 0:38:42( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: that we don't want any production, the minority leader is just patently incorrect. democrats, including myself -- i helped lead the charge -- voted to increase production in the east gulf. that is the place

0:38:42 to 0:38:55( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: where there's the most available oil and gas near refineries that wouldn't take seven years, the way starting a whole new venture in alaska would. and we voted for it under republican leadership

0:38:55 to 0:39:04( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: when the republicans led. so we're willing to increase production, but we do believe we're not going to drill our way out of this problem. and the majority leader is exactly right. the actions of the minority

0:39:04 to 0:39:18( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: leader say don't even debate it. and then he says they want to debate it. well, if you want to debate it, don't block the motion to proceed. and i am certain, having talked to the majority leader about this

0:39:18 to 0:39:32( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: -- i haven't talked to the majority leader about this but i will. and i know from his past actions if they have a series of amendments that are related to energy, they will b bee entertained. but if

0:39:32 to 0:39:51( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: they want to debate george bush's tax cuts or the estate tax. the majority leader is right to say don't do it. so, mr. president, again, this week in the senate republicans are blocking lower energy

0:39:51 to 0:40:04( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: costs. they are the party ofno." no, no, no. they are the party of no on global warming. they are the party of no on lower energy costs. they are the party of "no" on advanced tax help nor solar

0:40:04 to 0:40:17( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: and wind. they are the party of "no" on preventing the oil companies from doing everything they want. and as theajority leader said, the status quo is not what america wants, but the status quo is

0:40:17 to 0:40:27( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: exactly what the minority, the republicans, are standing for. and i said it yesterday and i'll say it again, as head of the dscc -- and i care more about this substantively, i'd much rather we move

0:40:27 to 0:40:44( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: forward. but as head of the dscc, the minority is filibustering themselves right out of their seats, when three-quarters of americans demand dramatic change and the minority says no change, that is

0:40:44 to 0:40:55( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: not a formula for political success. and you don't have to be a political genius to know it. so i would say to the rank and file members -- to the rank-and-file members on the other side, i don't

0:40:55 to 0:41:08( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: understand the logic, i don't understand the thinking. but you're sure not helping yourself or helping your country. i'd like to talk about medicare for a minute, mr. president. that's the bill we're

0:41:08 to 0:41:18( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: on. and i rise to speak in strong support of the medicare improvements for patients and providers act of 2008. i want to congratulate my leader on the finance committee, our leader, chairman max baucus,

0:41:18 to 0:41:33( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: for introducing this much-needed legislation. when lyndon johnson signed medicare into law in 1965, he promised it would transform the life of american senior citizens. quote -- "no longer will older

0:41:33 to 0:41:45( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. no longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so they might enjoy dignity in their later

0:41:45 to 0:41:55( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: years." no one could have said it better, and yet 40 years later we're at a critical moment. do we make much-needed improvements to the program to allo it to fulfill its promise to america's seniors

0:41:55 to 0:42:04( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: or do we ignore this challenge? we have worked hard in the finance committee to put together a fair and reasonable legislation that is supported by all physicians groups and millions of beneficiaries.

0:42:04 to 0:42:17( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: we have compromised. i don't believe that medicare advantage should come out of medical education. it affects my state. the majority of it will. and i'm still willing to sort of suck it in and say,

0:42:17 to 0:42:30( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: okay. but some on the other side are saying, no, it has to be all their way. we know that fee-for-service in medicare advantage is far more lucrative and far more spread around the country, and yet,

0:42:30 to 0:42:46( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: we don't have very much of that in here to help pay for the other necessary increases. but it's a compromise bill. it's a bipartisan bill with broad support on the finance committee. and i urge all

0:42:46 to 0:42:59( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: members to vote for cloture today so we can provide help to millions of american seniors and the hard-working health care providers who treat them. we have to pass this bill to avoid catastrophic cuts

0:42:59 to 0:43:08( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: to doctors and we know that these physicians face a 10% cut. you say, well, they're doctors, they can afford it. the trouble is if we do this cut, lots of doctors don't take medicare and our poor

0:43:08 to 0:43:17( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: senior citizens are out in the lurch. when we cut resources to doctors, patients lose in this instance. we need to put aside politics and do the right thing for our seniors and pass this bill. some members

0:43:17 to 0:43:28( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: seem to think that doing more for low-income seniors for americans who are trying to make ends meet and are deciding between filling up their car's tanks with $4 gas and paying for a doctor's visit

0:43:28 to 0:43:38( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: is wrong. opponents of this measure say that now is not the time to improve medicare. well, i say now is exactly the time. we need to cut costs where we can and enhance the program where it's needed.

0:43:38 to 0:43:47( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: and our constituents are waiting for action. in my state of new york, the aarp dropped off 20,000 petitions in three wheel barrels at my office in albany. these 20,000 petitions were from new yorkers

0:43:47 to 0:43:56( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: asking congress to pass this bill, to pass our bill( ) , s. 3101 because it helps seniors on fixed incomes, establishes an e-prescribing requirements. and we're particularly pleased that the bill emphasizes

0:43:56 to 0:44:09( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: preventive health care and expands coverage for key screenings which c catch problems before they become more serious, and many other important measures. in addition, the bill stops the cuts to physicians

0:44:09 to 0:44:20( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: and provides a 1.1% update in 2009. the medical society of new york and the medical societies throughout america are in favor. i've spoken to the head of the a.m.a., who is dr. nancy neilson from

0:44:20 to 0:44:30( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: buffalo, new york. she is the incoming president of the a.m.a. and has been tirelessly working, and i want to give her a little shout out of thanks here on the floor of the senate. i'm particularly

0:44:30 to 0:44:37( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: pleased also that this bill provides some increased payments for ambulance providers. our ambulance providers, we put in a bill to do this, it had 25 bipartisan cosponsors. g.a.o. found that ambulance

0:44:37 to 0:44:53( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: service providers are reimbursed on average 6% below their costs in providing medicare patients. this is unacceptable and it means they cut back on the lifesaving equipment needed in ambulance,

0:44:53 to 0:45:07( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: and we all know that for things like stroke and heart attack, having an up-to-date, modern ambulance with the most lifesaving equipment sofpb the difference between life and death.~ this increase will

0:45:07 to 0:45:21( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: actually save lives. and we ensure that pharmacists receive payments on time. 2,000 independent pharmacies in new york and around the country many more thousands, are counting on this important change

0:45:21 to 0:45:36( Edit History Discussion )

Charles Schumer: to keep them in the black. that's in the bill. you can't ask pharmacies, small business people, to just give a line of credit to the federal government. that doesn't make much sense. so this is a good bill.

0:45:36 to 0:46:16( Edit History Discussion )

i'll ask unanimous consent my entire remarkse placed in the record and urge we move forward and get the 60 votes -- i hope we won't have another filibuster, number 76; let's hope and pray that doesn't