Travis Martinez – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Claiming that Democrats are pulling ‘gimmicks’ on the American public, Senate Republicans on Friday blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) health reform bill, which the Congressional Budget Office says will cost nearly $2.5 trillion after all the provisions have been enacted.

“In the words of the great Yogi Berra, ‘this is deja vu all over again’,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “They [Democrats] assume savings on the [Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act], which Sen. Conrad has described as a ponzi scheme of the first order…something that Bernie Madoff would be proud of.”

The CLASS Act, S.697, sponsored by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), would amend the Public Health Service Act to create a national, voluntary disability insurance program under which all employees are automatically enrolled, but are allowed to waive enrollment. Establishing this new program is contingent upon Reid’s big bill passing.

Thune his Republican colleagues were flanked by massive charts displaying the nation’s current debt as well as potential debt increases that they argued would be caused by H.R. 3590, otherwise known as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” With a major vote to determine whether or not the bill will proceed to the floor expected to take place Saturday night, GOP leaders are looking to convince a few moderate Democrats to join them.

“It would be our hope that our more moderate colleagues on the Democratic side would respect the wished of the constituents, rather than doing the bidding of Harry Reid,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). ”At the end of the day, this health care legislation will impact every American in extraordinary ways. We believe in a very negative way. We hope the views of the American people will be respected.”

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)

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Wednesday on the Senate floor that Republicans should have a say in the crafting of health care reform legislation. (0:13)

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Wednesday on the Senate floor that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business. (0:26)

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the American public is not in favor of a public option plan, and calls its inclusion in the Senate’s healthcare bill a bad idea. (0:14)

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called upon his Democratic colleagues to slow down the health care reform process, pointing to the lengths of time it took the Senate to tackle other crucial issues.

“Some would argue that [health care reform] is a bigger issue than No Child Left Behind. We sent seven weeks on that,” McConnell said. “Some would argue that this is a bigger issue than Energy, we spent eight weeks on that.”

 

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Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that he would support the recent announcement by the White House to provide senior citizens with a check for $250 if the move was payed for with Recovery Act funds.

“The stimulus bill is not working,” said Boehner during a press briefing. “If we’re going provide this benefit to our seniors, why don’t we take it from stimulus funds that clearly aren’t getting the job done?”

The White House suggested the $250 early Wednesday to counter the lack of a cost of living increase in funds received by Social Security recipients.

Boehner was joined Thursday by Senate Minoirty Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who disparaged the direction the health care debate has taken.

McConnell called upon his Democratic colleagues to slow down the health care reform process, pointing to the length of time it took the Senate to tackle other crucial issues.

“Some would argue that [health care reform] is a bigger issue than No Child Left Behind. We spent seven weeks on that,” McConnell said. “Some would argue that this is a bigger issue than Energy, we spent eight weeks on that.”

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Republican Senate Leaders warned Democrats Tuesday that if the majority party is serious about using budget reconciliation to secure a victory on health care reform, they better watch out.

“You think the American people were upset in August, you haven’t seen anything like they’re going to be if this device is chosen… to jam this proposal with very little debate,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y). “Budget Reconciliation has been used to raise taxes, but has never been used to restructure one-sixth of the economy.”

Budget reconciliation is a procedure in which legislation can pass with a simple 51 majority and avoid a filibuster.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), a member of the Finance Committee, called the markup a work in progress. He also added that the Committee should not be constrained by artificial deadlines.

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said during a press conference Wednesday that they look forward to welcoming back President Barack Obama to the Capitol tonight and hope that he’s been paying attention to public opinion. Leader Boehner concluded that after listening to his constituents during the August recess, “the American people want the current [health care] system to work better, but they don’t want big government to run it.”

McConnell also asked for a bi-partisan agreement on the final legislation, but voiced his opposition to any health care bill that raises taxes or takes from medicare.

McConnell also addressed the need for Insurance reform, which he said most Republican members are in agreement towards, with respect to pre-existing conditions, interstate competition and portability.

Leader Boehner stated that the aim of the President’s joint address may be to, “double down and put lipstick on this pig”.

Rep. Dr. Charles Boustany (R-La.) has been selected for tonight’s republican response. Boustany has worked for twenty years as a cardiac surgeon.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized a meeting between President Obama and the director of the Congressional Budget Office, an organization that provides non-partisan analysis of Congressional proposals. He said that the meeting could compromise the CBO’s independence. (0:37)

 

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