Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement following the tragic partisan vote in the US Senate at 1:00 AM today.
Republican.Senate.gov has more on this historic power grab.
“Tonight marks the culmination of a long national debate. Passions have run high. And, that’s appropriate because the bill we are voting on tonight will impact the life of every American. It will shape the future of our country. It will determine whether our children can afford the nation they inherit. It is one of the most consequential votes any of us will ever take. And none of us take it lightly.
“But make no mistake: if the people who wrote this bill were proud of it, they wouldn’t be forcing this vote in the dead of night
“Here are just some of the deals we’ve noticed:
“$100 million for an unnamed health care facility at an unnamed university somewhere in the United States — the bill doesn’t say where — and no one will even step forward to claim it.
“ One state out of 50 gets to expand Medicaid at no cost to itself — while taxpayers in the other 49 states pick up the tab.
“The same Senator who cut that deal secured another one that benefits a single insurance company – just one insurance company – based in his state.
“Do the supporters of this bill know all this? Do they think it’s a fair deal for their states, for the rest of the country?
“The fact is, a year after this debate started few people could have imagined that this is how it would end — with a couple of cheap deals and a rushed vote at one o’clock in the morning. But that’s where we are.
“And Americans are wondering tonight: How did this happen?
“So I’d like to take a moment to explain to the American people how we got here, to explain what happened — and what’s happening now.
“Everyone in this chamber agrees we need health care reform. The question is how?
“Some of us have taken the view that the American people want us to tackle the cost issue, and we’ve proposed targeted steps to do it. Our friends on the other side have taken the opposite approach.
“And the result has been just what you’d expect.
“The final product is a mess — and so is the process that’s brought us here to vote on a bill that the American people overwhelmingly oppose.
“Any challenge of this size and scope has always been dealt with on a bipartisan basis. The senior Senator from Maine made that point at the outset of the debate, and reminded us all how these things have been handled throughout history..
“The Social Security Act of 1935 was approved by all but six members of the Senate. The Medicare and Medicaid Acts of 1965 were approved by all but 21. All but eight senators voted for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
“Americans believe that on issues of this importance, one party should never be allowed to force its will on the other half of the nation. The proponents of this bill felt differently.
“In a departure from history, Democrat leaders put together a bill so heavy with tax hikes, Medicare cuts and government intrusion, that, in the end their biggest problem wasn’t convincing Republicans to support it, it was convincing the Democrats.
“In the end, the price of passing this bill wasn’t achieving the reforms Americans were promised.
“It was a blind call to make history, even if it was a historical mistake — which is exactly what this bill will be if it’s passed. Because, in the end, this debate isn’t about differences between two parties, it’s about a $2.3 trillion dollar, 2,733-page health care reform bill that does not reform health care and, in fact, makes its price go up.
December 21st, 2009 | 6:05 am | #1
This bill has made me sick.
“For the first time in my life I am truly ashamned of my countrys goverment! What do you get when you vote for someone who won’t even let people know who he is let alone hang out for years with the Chicago scum.
This is a sad sad day for America….. but it’s not over untill “WE THE PEOPLE” speak!
December 21st, 2009 | 6:17 am | #2
[...] 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment Senator Mitch McConnell releases his statement on “The Bill” to take over 1/6th of our [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 6:56 am | #3
Heckuvajob Mitch.
You had half the country protesting in the streets and talk radio going ballistic.
Did you use any of it…?
““And Americans are wondering tonight: How did this happen?”</b?
We know how it happened.
You guys have been sleeping on the job.
December 21st, 2009 | 6:58 am | #4
I’ve been in Private practice for 30 yrs, I know how things work in the Medical system. In my Demographic, 30% of my caseload is Care/Caid. My reimbursement for 1/3 of my work is 6%. Did you get that? 6% pay for 1/3 of my work. Obama and the socialists will force everyone into their controlling system. How many Dr’s will survive at that payment level? NONE, is the correct answer. As this current crop of “trapped” Dr’s works it’s way thru the system, and retires or goes out of business, there will be almost no replacements. Who wants to graduate school $300,000 in debt when the earning potential of that Profession has been reduced to that of the Hospital Janitor? There will be a huge Dr shortage in 15 yrs with NO possibility of increasing the numbers because the reimbursement will be so dismal and regulations so outrageous. You people will start to die of things that long ago were solved. Thanks Barack, you’ve just killed millions of people. You’re right up there with Rachel Carson in numbers of innocent people killed.
December 21st, 2009 | 7:21 am | #5
[...] by Dim Bulb on December 21, 2009 From a statement by GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (H/T) to Gateway Pundit. Emphasis and italics are mine. “Tonight marks the culmination of a long national debate. [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 7:23 am | #6
The 60 democratic votes in the Senate represent 64% of the U.S. population. The 36% of the population represented by Republicans in the Senate have distorted the system through the historically unprecedented use of the filibuster.
That’s clearly disingenuous. It’s being held at the night because of Republican delaying actions, including the minority holding an essential military spending bill hostage.
The Republicans repeatedly made clear they were going to use any and all parliamentary tactics to prevent any reform bill from passing.
December 21st, 2009 | 7:30 am | #7
Democrats are preparing a suicide pact. They are guaranteeing a huge 2010 Republican Revolutions. The leaders of our party much unite and create a platform that speaks to the American people now…otherwise, we have no reason to whine about what the Democrats are doing.
http://neoavatara.com/blog/?p=9145
December 21st, 2009 | 8:02 am | #8
While I disagree with the outcome, I am outraged about the process. I know that deals are often made, but the blatant nature of the payoffs in the bill are contemptible.
The worse thing is that this bill feels like the worst of all worlds and will result in higher taxes and higher insurance premiums.
December 21st, 2009 | 8:15 am | #9
Talk about clearly disingenuous. You toss out the 64% figure while ignoring the polls that show that a majority of the country are against the bill:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/124715/Majority-Americans-Not-Backing-Healthcare-Bill.aspx
One only wonders what the polls would show if Americans, not preoccupied by Christmas, knew what was actually in the bill and what it would mean for the health care system and them personally.
Nonetheless, this indicates that many Senators are voting against the wishes of their constituents. Many of these Senators will pay the price for supporting this bill among these voters, though obviously not with someone like you that toes the party line.
So apparently you bought into the “need” for this thing to be passed by Christmas, even if it meant it lacked transparency by being voted on in the middle of the night and required the buying off of the votes of various Democratic Senators. I’m sure Reid and Co. are very happy to have blind followers like you.
And why should they? They weren’t truly included in the composition of this bill, which goes against virtually every goal that Obama and the Democrats stated was the purpose of health reform. For example, I thought the urgency of this bill was because we needed to decrease health care costs, when this bill adds to them. Talk about clearly disingenuous. Moreover, your comment is also clearly disingenuous since the Republicans put forth their own reform plans and ideas that were completely ignored because none of them gave so much power to the federal government. For example, here you go:
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
Perhaps next time you should step off of your soapbox and actually look at the opposing side with an open mind instead of simply posting Reid’s talking points. If the Senate Democrats had done so, they may be passing a bill a majority of the country supported and actually accomplished some of what they claimed they wanted to accomplish — i.e., providing benefits for ALL Americans and improving our country’s fiscal situation.
December 21st, 2009 | 8:19 am | #10
While Mr. Zachriel may be correct in his population statistics, I’m not sure these Senators are representing their constituency. Take Nebraska for instance, 60-65% of Nebraska oppose this bill, yet Mr. Nelson takes a sweetheart deal and turns his back on the majority. Not sure how that is representing anything other than Mr. Nelson’s pockets (don’t think for a moment that he won’t see residuals for his campaign from this, he’ll need it).
How many others in that 65% you claim are doing the same thing?
December 21st, 2009 | 8:39 am | #11
Zachriel,
I can’t even say nice try. First, and foremost, every poll in the country shows the majority of the people are against this bill; the left wing blogosphere is beside themselves with anger over this charade; the unions are against this bill; MoveOn.org is against this bill; it is so bad that democratic politians must be bought off to secure their votes.
…and you ramble with this nonsense and try to place blame against the Republicans? Either disingenuous or delusional!
…as soon as the country purges itself of these criminals, there must be new voting regulations written requiring some degree of competence.
December 21st, 2009 | 8:43 am | #12
[...] Gateway Pundit has the statement from Mitch McConnell: “Tonight marks the culmination of a long national debate. Passions have run high. And, that’s [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 9:54 am | #13
Rockwood, JC, Slappy, you said it all and very well too. Ya got my vote.
Oh Zachriel, do you work for CRU or NASA or NOAA? Your misuse and abuse of data seems somehow very familiar.
December 21st, 2009 | 10:15 am | #14
[...] Lane at RedState. And the guys at Hillbuzz are in a fighting mood, as is Far Right Democrat. So are Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. You should be [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 10:15 am | #15
[...] Republican Leader McConnell Releases Statement on Historic Mistake: “But make no mistake: if the people who wrote this bill were proud of it, they wouldn’t be forcing this vote in the dead of night [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 10:53 am | #16
Isn’t this the first time in history that we know what Senators cost?
I love this “Ebay” link
http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/12/ebay-item-of-day.html
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December 21st, 2009 | 12:42 pm | #17
That is contrary to your own resource which shows that people are split on the issue with neither position having a majority. Keep in mind that many people oppose the current bill because they want a stronger bill. Most people supported the public option, for instance.
December 21st, 2009 | 2:54 pm | #18
[...] GOP Leader McConnelll Releases Statement on Historic Mistake [...]
December 21st, 2009 | 4:06 pm | #19
Zachriel
December 21st, 2009 | 12:42 pm | #17
Bwaak! Bwaak! Zachy wanna cracker!! Bwaak!
December 21st, 2009 | 4:47 pm | #20
“Most people supported the public option, for instance.” rasmussen had a poll in may concerning healthcare reform – people were for it unless it effected their own healthcare. so quite possibly those “most people” will be in for
a rude awakening.
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