As the Senate prepares to take on health care reform Saturday, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) says that he hopes to convince a few moderate Democrats to join the GOP in voting against the bill. (0:27)
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) describes the Democrats’ health care bill as a great ponzi scheme; “One that would make Bernie Madoff proud. (0:49)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Democrats are using tricky tactics to pass healthcare reform legislation that will cost less than $900 billion. (0:51)
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) urges House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to remove raising of the national debt ceiling language from the Defense spending bill. Lance said he’d like the Speaker to allow for a separate vote on the issue. (1:02)
Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) reminds the public that it is his duty as a legislator “to help [his] constituency despite all the obstacles thrown in [their] path.” (0:37)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) shows his support for the Senate health care bill, saying “Our aim here is very simple: To recreate America as a wellness society, to get away from sick care to true health care.” (0:56)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) confidently says, “This Congress, this Presidency, are going to sign into law a national health care program for all Americans.” (0:15)
At a press conference Thursday marking the release of the Senate health care bill, HELP Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says, “This is an opportunity that comes oh so rarely to any Congress to make a difference for 100% of your fellow citizens…[to] improve the quality of life for every single American for decades to come.” (0:34)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) invokes a statement former President Harry S. Truman wrote to Congress 64 years ago today that said “we should resolve now that the health of this nation is a national concern, that financial barriers in the way of attaining health shall be removed, that is, the health of all the citizens deserve the help of all the nation.” (0:27)
Says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), “We have been working to reform health care since the first half of the last century.” (0:16)
