Floor Statements

Mr. President, Americans have been very clear about where they stand on the Republicans' budget proposal: They reject it soundly, and for many reasons. But the most glaring reason is the effort to change Medicare as we know it. No wonder. It ends a successful program that has saved seniors from illness and poverty for over four decades-- millions of them.

Their so-called budget is nothing more than an ideological plan to shift the burden to seniors, who can least afford it, in an effort to put the insurance companies between senior patients and their doctors. With all due respect to the ranking member of the Budget Committee here in the Senate, pointing the finger at Democrats, as he has done, will not erase the fact they plan to end the Medicare Program as we know it and like it.

Democrats, Republicans, and Independents feel the same way, and no amount of political distortions or distractions will change that. Only when Republicans agree to take cuts to Medicare off the table can we have a serious discussion about how we can move forward in our battle to decrease the deficit.

Republicans claim only sacrifices from seniors will balance the budget. We disagree. Yet they protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. They protect the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded handouts to oil companies making record profits. The Republican plan will put insurance company bureaucrats between seniors and their doctors. It would force each senior, for example, to pay $6,400 more each year for health care.

Breaking our promise to seniors, while wealthy oil companies and billionaires get a pass, is simply too high a price to pay. We need to strengthen Medicare for the millions of seniors who count on it every day, and preserve it for our children and grandchildren, not cut seniors' benefits.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, morning business is closed; is that right?

Mr. President, what is the pending business?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 476 on behalf of Senator Feinstein.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Coburn be listed as the second sponsor of that amendment by Senator Feinstein, No. 476.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of S. 782, on Thursday, June 16, the Feinstein amendment No. 476 and the McCain amendment No. 411 be debated concurrently; that there be up to 4 hours of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the amendments in the following order: Feinstein No. 476 and McCain No. 411; further, that neither of the amendments be divisible; that there be no amendments, points of order, or motions in order to either amendment prior to the votes other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that both amendments

be subject to a 60-vote threshold; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; finally, upon disposition of the McCain amendment, the majority leader be recognized.

Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator from South Carolina for allowing us to go forward with this agreement. Senator DeMint wanted to ensure that this agreement would in no way limit his ability to offer and get votes on an amendment that he cares about, No. 460, regarding the renewable fuel standards and the estate tax.

Senator DeMint is correct and this agreement does not preclude the Senate from considering his amendment, and I thank the Senator for his cooperation.

I also very much appreciate the understanding of Senator Feinstein, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Thune, Senator Coburn. We have worked really hard trying to get to this point. It has not been easy. Most everyone did not get what they wanted. But that is what agreements are all about; we have the opportunity to move forward on other things. We will have to decide what more we can do on this bill. But I appreciate very much their understanding. In many conversations I had with them during the day they were all very courteous and thoughtful and very good advocates of their position.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 208.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 16; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of S. 782, the Economic Development Act, under the previous order.

There will be two rollcall votes tomorrow around 2 p.m. in relation to the Feinstein and McCain amendments regarding the subject matter of those amendments.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Madam President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 11 a.m. this morning. The majority will control the first half, the Republicans will control the final half. At 11 a.m., the Senate will be in executive session to consider the Cecchi and Salas nominations, with 1 hour of debate. At noon, there will be up to two votes on confirmation of the Cecchi and Salas nominations. Following the votes, the Senate will recess for the weekly caucus meetings until 2:15 p.m. At 2:15 p.m., there will be an additional rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Coburn amendment No. 436 regarding ethanol. Finally, following the cloture vote, Senator Rubio will be recognized to give his maiden speech to the Senate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business consist of 1 full hour equally divided rather than ending at 11 a.m.

Madam President, on this side of the aisle, we Democrats want to protect seniors on Medicare. That is our top priority. I have heard my friend, the ranking member of the Budget Committee, come here and talk for hours, and he keeps talking about things that really have no bearing on what I think is important for the country today.

We know the Republicans have put forward a budget that destroys Medicare. That is what we received. We voted on it over here, and it was turned down. It must be the Republicans' top priority because we have had votes on the Senate floor protecting taxpayer handouts, especially to oil companies. We had a full debate here that suggested we take this money that now goes to these oil companies--and even executives have said that they do not want the money, that they do not need the money--and apply it toward the deficit. Overwhelmingly, the Republicans voted no, so we couldn't get it done. So it appears clear they would rather balance the budget on the backs of seniors and Medicare than end the constant giveaways to oil and gas companies making billions a year in profits. These oil companies have made the largest profits in the history of the world. In the last quarter, they had $36 billion in net profits.

The Republicans' plan to end Medicare as we know it would put insurance company bureaucrats between seniors and their doctors and raise seniors' drug costs, forcing them to pay $6,400 more out-of- pocket costs every year. The American people are overwhelmingly opposed to this plan to end Medicare. A poll released yesterday showed that less than half the Republicans support the Republicans' plan to end Medicare. Overwhelmingly, Independents and Democrats joined with these Republicans who oppose the Republicans' plan to end Medicare.

We believe there is a need to reduce our deficit. That is why we have been working with Vice President Biden. Representing the Democrats in the Senate, Senator Inouye, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and

Senator Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, are meeting with Vice President Biden, and progress is being made.

There is no question we should be closing tax loopholes and targeting wasteful giveaways to oil companies. I am sure Vice President Biden is leading the Senators and House Members toward that end. Closing these tax loopholes and targeting wasteful giveaways to the oil companies making these record profits while charging--Madam President, here in the Washington, DC, area, as I do my morning exercise, I walk past a station right off the waterfront where gasoline is $5 a gallon. I haven't looked at it since this past week, but that is what it is. It is over $4 a gallon all over the United States, in many, many different places. We should be focusing on that instead of ending Medicare.

So I tell my friend, the ranking member of the Budget Committee, come and talk about the Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it. And what about the subsidies for these oil companies. Shouldn't we get rid of them? It is time the Republicans abandoned their ideological plan to end Medicare and work with us to strengthen and preserve our promise to seniors instead.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, notwithstanding the previous order, I ask unanimous consent that there be 5 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between the proponents and opponents of the Coburn amendment No. 436, as modified, prior to a cloture vote on the Coburn amendment. That would be for debate only.

Mr. President, that debate would come after the recess.

Mr. President, I join with my Republican counterpart in congratulating my friend from Florida for his fine speech. But I wish, in his remarks, he would have once in a while

mentioned where he spent a lot of his youth: Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV.

Mr. President, I would note the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, it is my understanding that the hour of 5 o'clock has arrived.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business from now until 6:30 this evening, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each; that at 6:30 p.m. the majority leader be recognized, and that this work we are going to do during the next hour and a half be for debate only.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we be in a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each, for debate only, until 7:30 today.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.