•    “The Debacle Could Prove To Be A Major Embarrassment For Senate Democrats, Who Sought Tuesday To Make The Relatively Unknown Bill A Major Political Issue By Sending Out Numerous News Releases Trumpeting Its Passage.” (“House May Block Food Safety Bill Over Senate Error,” Roll Call, 12/1/10)

“Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) Is Pushing To Get The Bill Passed Before The Lame-Duck Session Ends In December.” (“Senate Expected To Vote On Food Safety Bill,” The Washington Post, 11/30/10)

•    “Duncan Said Obama’s Support For The Bill Has Been ‘Unequivocal,’ Echoing Comments He Made To Reporters Nov. 18 That His Boss Was Willing To ‘Spend Political Capital’ On The Effort.” (“W.H. Makes Last Appeal For DREAM Act,” Politico, 11/29/10)

“President Obama's Fight To Let Openly Gay Men And Women Serve In The U.S. Military Enters Its Political Endgame This Week.” (“‘Don’t Ask’ Showdown Looms In Senate This Week,” Time’s Swampland, 11/28/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a letter signed by all 42 members of the Republican Caucus that was delivered to Senator Harry Reid earlier today. The letter states “we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities.”

Full letter to Senator Reid:

Full text of the letter:

Dear Leader Reid,

The nation’s unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans.  Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make private-sector job creation a priority all year.  President Obama in his first speech after the November election said “we owe” it to the American people to “focus on those issues that affect their jobs.”  He went on to say that Americans “want jobs to come back faster.”  Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents’ priorities become the Senate’s priorities.

For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers.  With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities.  While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.

Given our struggling economy, preventing the tax increase and providing economic certainty should be our top priority.  Without Congressional action by December 31, all American taxpayers will be hit by an increase in their individual income-tax rates and investment income through the capital gains and dividend rates.  If Congress were to adopt the President’s tax proposal to prevent the tax increase for only some Americans, small businesses would be targeted with a job-killing tax increase at the worst possible time.  Specifically, more than 750,000 small businesses will see a tax increase, which will affect 50 percent of small-business income and nearly 25 percent of the entire workforce.  The death tax rate will also climb from zero percent to 55 percent, which makes it the top concern for America’s small businesses.  Republicans and Democrats agree that small businesses create most new jobs, so we ought to be able to agree that raising taxes on small businesses is the wrong remedy in this economy.  Finally, Congress still needs to act on the “tax extenders” and the alternative minimum tax “patch,” all of which expired on December 31, 2009.

We look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner to keep the government operating and provide the nation’s small businesses with economic certainty that the job-killing tax hike will be prevented.

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL: “Let’s Get Something Straight. Millions Of Out-Of-Work Americans Don’t Want A Message. They Want A Job. Millions of struggling families trying to make ends meet don’t need the Democrat messaging to improve; they need the economy to improve. Selling bad economic policy to the American people is not an acceptable alternative to creating an environment that will put people back to work and help spur the economy.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 11/30/10)

“At $250,000, [Schumer] Said, The Message Is ‘Too Muddled. It's Much Clearer At $1 Million. It Unites Our Base…’” “Schumer said the higher threshold also would make it far more difficult for Republicans to say no. ‘There's a strong view in the caucus that if we make the dividing line $1 million, it becomes a very simple argument: We are for giving the middle class a tax break; they're for tax cuts for millionaires,’ Schumer said Sunday. At $250,000, he said, the message is ‘too muddled. It's much clearer at $1 million. It unites our base and the independent voters we lost in this election.’” (“Democrats Push Obama On Tax-Cut Compromise,” The Washington Post, 11/29/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “Yeah. And … [People] Are Starting To Find Out Now … That What They're Told Is Simply Not True. Their Premiums Haven't Gone Up. They're Not In A Position Where Their Companies Are Dropping Health Care.” (“$#!% Joe Biden Says,” GQ, 12/10)

“AARP's Endorsement Helped Secure Passage Of President Barack Obama's Health Care Overhaul. Now The Seniors' Lobby Is Telling Its Employees Their Insurance Costs Will Rise Partly As A Result Of The Law.” (“Citing Health Overhaul, AARP Hikes Employee Costs,” The Associated Press, 11/4/10)

•    “In An E-Mail To Employees, AARP Says Health Care Premiums Will Increase By 8 Percent To 13 Percent Next Year Because Of Rapidly Rising Medical Costs.” (“Citing Health Overhaul, AARP Hikes Employee Costs,” The Associated Press, 11/4/10)

“Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Nebraska Estimates That The New [Health Care] Law Will Cause Premiums To Increase By 1 Percent To 5 Percent For Next Year, while Omaha-based benefit consultant Kim Lobato of Aon Risk Solutions is seeing the middle part of that range, about 2 percent or 3 percent.” (“Health Care Law Gives Booster Shot To Premiums,” Omaha World-Herald, 11/14/10)

“Caterpillar Inc. Employees Will Face Increased Health Insurance Premiums As A Result Of Higher Costs Associated With The Health Care Reform Law Adopted Earlier This Year. For some employees, premiums for family coverage will increase by $41 a month, beginning Jan. 1. Even employee-only coverage will increase $5 a month, said a memo to management and salaried personnel that went out Thursday.” (“Caterpillar Raising Health Care Premiums,” Peoria Journal Star, 10/28/10)

“Aerospace Giant Boeing Is Joining The List Of Companies That Say The New Health Care Law Could Have A Potential Downside For Their Workers. In A Letter Mailed To Employees Late Last Week, The Company Cited The Overhaul As Part Of The Reason It Is Asking Some 90,000 Nonunion Workers To Pay Significantly More For Their Health Plan Next Year. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press.” (“Citing Health Care Law, Boeing Pares Employee Plan,” The Associated Press, 10/18/10)

•    “At The Principal Financial Group, The Company’s Decision Reflected Its Assessment Of Its Ability To Compete In The Environment Created By The New Law. ‘Now scale really matters,’ said Daniel J. Houston, a senior executive at Principal, which is headquartered in Des Moines. ‘We don’t have a significant concentration in any one market.’” (“Insurer Cuts Health Plans As New Law Takes Hold,” The New York Times, 10/1/10)

“3M Co. Confirmed It Would Eventually Stop Offering Its Health-Insurance Plan To Retirees, Citing The Federal Health Overhaul As A Factor.” (“3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/4/10)

“Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Has Notified Customers That It Will Drop Its Medicare Advantage Health Insurance Program At The End Of The Year, Forcing 22,000 Senior Citizens In Massachusetts, New Hampshire, And Maine To Seek Alternative Supplemental Coverage. The decision by Wellesley-based Harvard Pilgrim, the state’s second-largest health insurer, was prompted by a freeze in federal reimbursements and a new requirement that insurers offering the kind of product sold by Harvard Pilgrim — a Medicare Advantage private fee for service plan — form a contracted network of doctors who agree to participate for a negotiated amount of money.” (“Harvard Pilgrim Cancels Medicare Advantage Plan,” The Boston Globe, 9/28/10)

•    Lynn Bowman, Vice President Of Customer Service At Harvard Pilgrim’s Office In Quincy: “We Know That Cuts In Medicare Are Being Used To Fund National Health Care Reform.’’ (“Harvard Pilgrim Cancels Medicare Advantage Plan,” The Boston Globe, 9/28/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

“The First Former Guantanamo Bay Detainee To Be Tried In Federal Criminal Court Was Found Guilty On A Single Conspiracy Charge Wednesday But Cleared On 284 Other Counts. The Outcome, A Surprise, Seriously Undermines - And Could Doom - The Obama Administration's Plans To Put Other Guantanamo Detainees On Trial In U.S. Civilian Courts.” (“Terror Detainee Largely Acquitted,” The Washington Post, 11/18/10)

•    “But The Verdict Was Still A Blow To Administration Officials, Who Were Quietly Confident That Ghailani Would Be Found Guilty On All Charges. For Some, A Conviction On Only One Count Amounted To A Close Call.” (“Terror Detainee Largely Acquitted,” The Washington Post, 11/18/10)

ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER: “Failure Is Not An Option. These Are Cases That Have To Be Won. I Don't Expect That We Will Have A Contrary Result.” “Asked what might happen if the suspects are acquitted, Holder replied: ‘Failure is not an option. These are cases that have to be won. I don't expect that we will have a contrary result.’” (“Obama: Alleged 9/11 Leader Will Be Executed,” MSNBC, 11/18/09)

•    HOLDER: “By Prosecuting Ahmed Ghailani In Federal Court, We Will Ensure That He Finally Answers For His Alleged Role In The Bombing Of Our Embassies In Tanzania And Kenya.” (U.S. Dept. Of Justice, “Accused East Africa Embassy Bomber Held at Guantanamo Bay to Be Prosecuted in U.S. Federal Court,” 5/21/09)

•    HOLDER: “With His Appearance In Federal Court Today, Ahmed Ghailani Is Being Held Accountable For His Alleged Role In The Bombing Of U.S. Embassies In Tanzania And Kenya And The Murder Of 224 People.” (Justice Department, “Ahmed Ghailani Transferred from Guantanamo Bay to New York for Prosecution on Terror Charges,” 6/9/09)

•    HOLDER: “I Think The True Test Is, Ultimately, How Are These Cases Resolved? What Happens? Can These Cases Be Brought Into Article III Courts And Can They Be Successfully Resolved From The Government's Perspective? … And At The Conclusion Of The Ghailani Case, I'll Ask You To Ask Me That Question Again.” Q: “Mr. Attorney General, back on Ghailani, the Republicans have repeatedly criticized the administration over allowing them, terrorism suspects, from Guantanamo or being held at Guantanamo full access to the U.S. legal systems. And here, in the very first trial of one of those detainees, you have a judge who has excluded one of your key witnesses. How does this not make it that much more difficult to move ahead with KSM and other suspects in the wake of that?” HOLDER: “Well, you have to understand something. We're talking about one ruling in one case by one judge that we will look at and decide how we want to react to it. I think the true test is, ultimately, how are these cases resolved? What happens? Can these cases be brought into Article III courts and can they be successfully resolved from the government's perspective? ... We have to deal with this one ruling, and we will. And the matter will proceed. And at the conclusion of the Ghailani case, I'll ask you to ask me that question again.” (Justice Department, Press Conference, 10/6/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

“Exit Polls Have Had Varying ‘Most Important Issues’ Lists Since 1992 With ‘The Economy’ As An Issue. This Year, 62 Percent Of Voters Picked It As The Single Most Important Issue In Their Vote…” (“2010 Elections Exit Poll Analysis: The Political Price Of Economic Pain,” ABC News, 11/3/10)

“In A Direct Challenge To Republicans Who Support The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy Barring Gay Men And Lesbians From Serving Openly In The Armed Forces, The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid Of Nevada, Said He Would Push Ahead With A Military Policy Bill That Includes Language Authorizing The Pentagon To Repeal The Ban.” (“Reid To Push To Allow End Of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’,” The New York Times, 11/18/10)

•    “Senate Democratic Aides Said Mr. Reid Would Try To Take Up The Bill Sometime In December, meaning after the Pentagon is due to release a report on how it would carry out a repeal. The report includes a survey of active-duty forces and their families, which shows that a majority do not care if gay men and women serve openly.” (“Reid To Push To Allow End Of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’,” The New York Times, 11/18/10)

•    “Whitehouse Is A Vocal Supporter Of One Of The Nominees Who Have Drawn Fire: John McConnell Jr., A Motley Rice Partner Who’s Been Nominated For Federal District Court In Rhode Island. The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Is Opposing McConnell’s Nomination, Citing His Work As A Plaintiffs’ Lawyer On Lead Paint Litigation And Other Cases. The Other Three Nominees Whom Reid Is Trying To Force Votes On, Whitehouse Said, Are Goodwin Liu For The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The 9th Circuit, Edward Chen For The Northern District Of California And Louis Butler For The Western District Of Wisconsin. Republicans have targeted all three because of what they call the nominees’ extreme views, while the nominees’ home-state senators and other supporters argue they’re being treated unfairly.” (“Democrats Plan Votes On Controversial Nominees, Senator Says,” The Legal Times, 11/17/10)

THE WASHINGTON POST’S DANA MILBANK: “But It Would Be A Novel Interpretation Of The Election Results To Conclude That Americans’ Top Priority At This Pivotal Moment Is A Reorganization Of The Food And Drug Administration.” (Dana Milbank, “Chuck Schumer Helps The Democrats Get Political,” The Washington Post, 11/17/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

THE WASHINGTON POST’S DANA MILBANK: “But It Would Be A Novel Interpretation Of The Election Results To Conclude That Americans’ Top Priority At This Pivotal Moment Is A Reorganization Of The Food And Drug Administration.” (Dana Milbank, “Chuck Schumer Helps The Democrats Get Political,” The Washington Post, 11/17/10)

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Has Promised To Bring The DREAM Act, An Important Piece Of Legislation For The Latino Community, To A Vote In The Senate After The November Elections -- Whether Or Not Democrats Retain Their Majority.” (“Harry Reid Promises Senate Will Hold A Vote On The Dream Act In Lame-Duck Session,” The Huffington Post, 10/29/10)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I Have The Right To Bring That Up Any Time I Want.” “‘The answer is yes,’ Reid told Univision host Jorge Ramos in October when pressed about whether there will be a vote. ‘I have the right to bring that up any time I want.’” (“Will Congress Vote On DREAM Act For Illegal Immigrants In 2010?” ABC News, 11/15/10)

•    “Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-N.Y.) And Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) Will Meet With President Barack Obama Tuesday Afternoon To Talk About The Chances Of Getting Comprehensive Immigration Reform Or The DREAM Act Passed In The Lame Duck Session, a House Democratic source said.” (“Obama, Dems To Meet On DREAM Act,” Politico, 11/15/10)

“In A Joint Statement Issued Tuesday By Sens. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) And Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), The Lawmakers Call On Senate Leaders To ‘Act Immediately To Debate And Pass A Defense Authorization Bill And Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ During The Lame Duck Session.’” (“Senate Trio Urges Action On DADT,” Roll Call, 11/9/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “I Reiterated My Commitment To Getting The START Treaty Done During The Lame-Duck Session.” “President Barack Obama, capping a far-flung Asian trip of mixed results, assured Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday that getting the Senate to ratify the START nuclear weapons treaty is a ‘top priority’ of his administration.  ‘I reiterated my commitment to getting the START treaty done during the lame-duck session," Obama said, noting that Congress returns next week for its postelection session.” (“Obama To Medvedev: START Vote Is 'Top Priority',” The Associated Press, 11/13/10)

•    “The Democratic Chairman Of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, Said Wednesday He's ‘Very Hopeful’ The Senate Will Vote In December. ‘We're Going To Try To Move To The START Treaty And We're Going To Get The START Treaty Done,’ He Vowed.” (“Is A Full Stop Likely For New START?” CNN, 11/12/10)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

The following are excerpts from Sen. McConnell’s interview on “Face the Nation” Sunday morning regarding the President’s newfound “flexibility” on raising taxes on small businesses:

“We hope to do business with the President on a number of things. I think the issue here is whether you want to raise taxes on small businesses in the middle of what most Americans think is a recession. I and all of my members think it's a bad idea to do that. I do sense some flexibility on the president's part and we’re happy to talk to him about it.

“Let me make sure everybody understands what we're talking about here: These aren't tax cuts, these are tax increases—tax increases in the middle of a recession.”

“We don't think raising taxes on small business is a good idea. You can't do what he's suggesting you might do without having a small business tax increase.”

“We can't negotiate it this morning but our view is don't raise taxes on small business. We would rather not do it at any time—in fact I’ve introduced the only bill that would make the current tax rates permanent—but certainly you wouldn't want to do it in the middle of an income slowdown.”

“We're willing to start talking about getting an extension of some kind so that taxes don't go up on anybody.”

“The whole nomenclature surrounding this that somehow we're doing people a favor by giving them their own money back, I just don't accept.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks (as prepared) this morning at the Heritage Foundation:

“Over the past two years, the American people looked at what was going on in Washington and they became increasingly worried. Not only were Democratic leaders ignoring our nation’s ongoing job crisis; their big-government policies and out-of-control spending was causing some to wonder about the future of the American dream itself.

“Americans worried about the consequences of a $14 trillion debt; about a health care bill that creates 159 new bureaucratic entities, including two massive new entitlement programs; they worried about all the bailouts, and they worried about every other piece of legislation that seemed like it was designed to kill jobs rather than create them.

“Most of all, they worried that what some have called the Europeanization of America would continue unchecked, and that, as a result, our children and grandchildren could no longer expect to have the same opportunities that we’ve had.

“Two days ago, those worries gave way to a new optimism. For the past two years, Democrat lawmakers chose to ignore the American people, so on Tuesday the American people chose new lawmakers. They held their elected representatives to account. And they demonstrated to all of us that Constitutional conservatism is alive and well.

“This isn’t a reason for Republicans to gloat; rather, it’s a time for both parties to realize who’s really in charge — the people — and to be grateful for the opportunity we now have to begin to turn this ship around. Tuesday was a referendum, not a choice. It was a report card on the administration and anyone who supported its agenda, plain and simple.

“It doesn’t take a roomful of political scientists to figure it out. Americans voted for change in the last two elections because of two long and difficult wars and because they hoped a changing of the guard would stabilize the economy and get America moving again. And then the people they elected set about dismantling the free market, handing out political favors at taxpayer expense, expanding government, and creating a more precarious future for our children. In other words, Democrat leaders used the crisis of the moment to advance an agenda Americans didn’t ask for and couldn’t afford. And then they ignored and dismissed anyone who dared to speak out against it.

“So the voters didn’t suddenly fall in love with Republicans; they fell out of love with Democrats. And while they may have voted to send more Republicans to Washington, they’re sending them here with clear marching orders: stop the big-government freight train and respect the will of the people who sent you there. As Churchill once observed, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; [and] courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” And I can’t think of a better way to sum up Tuesday’s election than that.

“This morning, I would like to talk a little bit more about how we got here, and the task ahead. And I wanted to do it here at the Heritage Foundation, because for nearly 40 years Heritage has played a crucial role in promoting and defending the principles of free enterprise, limited government, freedom, and a strong defense — in other words, the very principles the American people voted to uphold in Tuesday’s historic election.

“First: how we got here. Let’s cast our minds back for a moment to early 2009. I think a “Newsweek” cover from early February sums up the conventional wisdom in Washington at the time, at least among a lot of Democrats. It read, “We’re All Socialists Now”. And I’ll just note parenthetically that “Newsweek” was recently sold for less than the cover price of a single copy of the magazine. Hopefully the Democrats don’t bail them out too.

“Anyway, while the media was still groping to define the 2008 election, Republicans were taking stock. We knew the principles that had made our party great were the same principles that had made America great, and that if we were going to solve the problems of the day, we would have to embrace and explain those principles, not discard or conceal them. So we renewed our commitment to our core principles — win, lose, or draw.

“If we had not done this, the administration would never suffer the consequences for pushing policies Americans opposed, and Americans wouldn’t have a clear alternative. And that is why this, in my view, was the single most important thing Republicans in Congress did to prepare the ground for Tuesday’s election. By sticking together in principled opposition to policies we viewed as harmful, we made it perfectly clear to the American people where we stood. And we gave voters a real choice on Election Day.

“At the same time, we made it perfectly clear from the beginning that if President Obama proposed policies that were consistent with our principles, we’d work with him. Just two days after the Inauguration, in fact, I made a public offer at the National Press Club to accept the President’s campaign promise of post-partisanship by proposing to work with him on a number of goals that he himself had suggested, such as reforming entitlements, reducing the debt, increasing our energy independence, and lowering taxes to create jobs. 

“But it turned out the White House had different plans. Their strategy from the start, as I said, was to govern hard-left and use their big majorities to push through the most left-wing agenda possible, squeezing unpopular proposals through Congress by the slimmest majorities and hoping Americans would forget the details and the unseemly process over time. The Democrats’ idea of consensus was for Republicans to do whatever the administration wanted us to. And that’s why they plowed ahead from the very beginning with one piece of legislation after another written by liberals for liberals.

“And so by the spring of 2009, they had given us ample opportunity to stand up for the principles of limited government, lower taxes, and a strong defense. First, they called for closing Guantanamo without any plan for housing the terrorists who were held there; they had forced through their trillion dollar Stimulus; proposed a federal budget that would double the national debt in five years and triple it in 10; and bailed out automakers that should have been allowed to reorganize or fail. And it shouldn’t be lost on anybody, by the way, that the only one that refused a bailout, Ford, is the one that’s doing best today.

“As Democrats governed left, Republicans stood together time and again, making the case for conservative alternatives. And over the course of 19 months, Democrats added $3 trillion to the debt, more than 2.5 million Americans would lose their jobs … and Republicans would win races in states that had gone solidly for Democrats in 2008 —states like Virginia, New Jersey, and, of all places, Massachusetts. Clearly, the Democrat agenda was not the change Americans had hoped for. And Republicans were offering a clear alternative. That was the message of those races. And that was the message on Tuesday.

“The question now is whether Americans were wise to entrust Republicans with the task of reversing the damage. In answer, I would argue that Republicans can be entrusted with the task voters have given us — not because we say so, but because we’ve already been at it for two years. We have shown that we share the priorities the people have voiced. We have fought to defend them. Now we’re ready to get back to work on their behalf.

“Which raises a practical question: what can Americans expect from Republicans now?

“Let’s start with the big picture. Over the past week, some have said it was indelicate of me to suggest that our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office. But the fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health spending bill; to end the bailouts; cut spending; and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things it is to put someone in the White House who won’t veto any of these things. We can hope the President will start listening to the electorate after Tuesday’s election. But we can’t plan on it. And it would be foolish to expect that Republicans will be able to completely reverse the damage Democrats have done as long as a Democrat holds the veto pen.

“There’s just no getting around it.

“By their own admission, leaders of the Republican Revolution of 1994 think their greatest mistake was overlooking the power of the veto. They gave the impression they were somehow in charge when they weren’t. And after President Clinton vetoed their bills, making it impossible for them to accomplish all their goals, they ended up being viewed as failures, sellouts, or both. Today, Democrats not only have the White House. They have the Senate too. So we have to be realistic about what we can and cannot achieve, while at the same recognizing that realism should never be confused with capitulation.

“On health care, that means we can — and should — propose and vote on straight repeal, repeatedly. But we can’t expect the president to sign it. So we’ll also have to work, in the House, on denying funds for implementation, and, in the Senate, on votes against its most egregious provisions. At the same time, we’ll need to continue educating the public about the ill-effects of this bill on individuals young and old, families, and small businesses.

“And this is why oversight will play a crucial role in Republican efforts going forward.

“We may not be able to bring about straight repeal in the next two years, and we may not win every vote against targeted provisions, even though we should have bipartisan support for some. But we can compel administration officials to attempt to defend this indefensible health spending bill and other costly, government-driven measures, like the Stimulus and financial reform. We also need groups like Heritage to continue studying the ill-effects of the health care bill, and to show how its implementation is hurting families, seniors, and small businesses, limiting choices and making us less competitive. We welcome any help we can get in reversing the damage this bill has done and will do.

“Through oversight we’ll also keep a spotlight on the various agencies the administration will now use to advance through regulation what it can’t through legislation. Potential backdoor efforts in this area could include imposing a new national energy tax through the EPA now that cap-and-trade is dead, additional health care provisions through HHS, Card Check through the National Labor Relations Board, and some form of immigration change through the use of administrative amnesty and the selective enforcement of our laws.

“Good oversight can also make more accountable all the policy czars the administration has installed without any accountability to Congress or the American people.

“Another obstacle is the temptation to over-read our task. It’s my view that Americans are no more interested in a Republican plan for using government to reengineer society than they were in the Democrats’ plan to do so. Government has limits, thank heavens, and voters want us to respect them. That’s why Republicans will focus on doing a few things well.

“We will stop the liberal onslaught. We will make the case for repeal of the health spending bill even as we vote to eliminate its worst parts. We will vote to freeze and cut discretionary spending. We will fight to make sure that any spending bill that reaches the Senate floor is amendable, so members can vote for the spending cuts Americans are asking for. We will push to bring up and vote for House passed spending rescission bills.

“On the economy, we will work hard to ensure Democrats don’t raise taxes on anybody, especially in the middle of a recession. We will loudly oppose future stimulus bills that only stimulate the deficit and fight any further job-killing regulations. We will fight tooth and nail on behalf of Americans struggling to find and create jobs.

“And when it comes to educating the public about the effects of Democrat legislation, we will fulfill our constitutional duty to oversee the Executive Branch through smart, aggressive oversight.

“We will scrutinize Democrat legislation and force them to defend it. And we will continue to make the case that the Democrats’ big-government vision hinders freedom, prosperity, and opportunity — and that while it may benefit some in the short-term, it exposes everyone to calamity down the road.

“If we do these things well over the next two years, I believe the voters will be pleased with what they did on Tuesday, and Republicans will be in a much better position to reverse the worst excesses of the past two years and lay the groundwork for the kind of change we want and need. Meanwhile, Republican governors will help by showing at the state level that the kind of change we want is not only possible but also effective in cutting waste, creating jobs, and showing that government can work for people, not against them. Think tanks like Heritage will help too by arming us with ideas and tools like this week’s Checklist for getting America back on track. And Tea Party activists will continue to energize our party and challenge us to follow through on our commitments.

“None of this is to say that Republicans have given up cooperating with the President. The American people reminded us this week that we work for them, and we owe it to them and future generations to work together to find solutions to present troubles and to help guide our nation to better days. But, as I see it, the White House has a choice: they can change course, or they can double down on a vision of government that the American people have roundly rejected. If they choose the former, they’ll find a partner in Republicans. If they don’t, we will have more disagreements ahead.

“The formula is simple, really: when the administration agrees with the American people, we will agree with the administration. When it disagrees with the American people, we won’t. This has been our posture from the beginning of this administration. And we intend to stick with it. If the administration wants cooperation, it will have to begin to move in our direction.

“There is no reason we can’t work together to prevent a tax hike on small businesses. There’s no reason we can’t work together on energy independence, cutting spending, or increasing American exports by completing free trade agreements. And we can continue to work together to give our armed forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world whatever they need to accomplish their mission.

“So this morning I re-extend an offer that’s been on the table for two years to cooperate on shared goals — because ultimately this isn’t about an election; it’s about doing what’s best for our country. The American people want us to put aside the left-wing wish list and work together on helping to create jobs and restore the economy to health and prosperity. There is no reason the two parties can’t work together on achieving these goals.

“But whether or not the administration has a mid-course correction, Republicans have a plan for following through on the wishes of the American people. It starts with gratitude and a certain humility for the task we’ve been handed. It means sticking ever more closely to the conservative principles that got us here. It means learning the lessons of history. And, above all, it means listening to the people who sent us here. If we do all this, we will finish the job.”

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

 

WASHINGTON: “[Ralph Nilssen’s] $532 Monthly Premium Could Nearly Triple Next Year. … ‘I Just Sat Back And Said You've Got To Be Kidding Me.” “Ralph Nilssen's five beautiful kids are about to get more expensive. Regence Blue Shield sent him a letter saying rates are going up - way up. Regence put the blame - at least in part - on the new and controversial health care law. ‘Obama care went into effect and my rates went through the roof,’ said Nilssen. In the letter, Regence told Nilssen his $532 monthly premium could nearly triple next year. ‘I just sat back and said you've got to be kidding me,’ he said.” (“Regence Blue Shield Customers Notified Of Skyrocketing Rates,” KING 5 News [WA], 10/12/10)

NEW YORK: “Two Of The Region's Three Dominant Health Insurers Intend To Raise Premiums On Average By Double Digits For Next Year, And The Third Wants A Double-Digit Increase For Plans Not Structured As Health Maintenance Organizations. The Premium For One Insurance Plan Could Rise Almost 36 Percent. The Insurers Cite Rising Costs Of Medical Care And Federal Health Care Reforms.” (“Insurers Ask Big Boosts In Premiums,” Buffalo News, 10/10/10)

•    “Joe Milazzo, Owner Of Milazzo Renovations In Lancaster, Already Was Paying $1,200 A Month For Individual Coverage From Independent Health Association When He Got A Notice Of An Increase Of Roughly 15 Percent. ‘It's Craziness,’ He Said. ‘It's Getting To The Point Where Health Insurance Payments Are More Than The Mortgage Payment.’” (“Insurers Ask Big Boosts In Premiums,” Buffalo News, 10/10/10)

CONNECTICUT: “The Cost Of The Expansion Of Health Care Coverage Approved By Congress Is Hitting Home In Connecticut … The Insurance Department Has Approved Premium Increases Of More Than 20 Percent...” “The cost of the expansion of health care coverage approved by Congress is hitting home in Connecticut, according to the state Insurance Department and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The Insurance Department has approved premium increases of more than 20 percent for some of Anthem’s individual coverage plans. … Anthem said the increases were necessary because of rising medical costs and the expanded benefits required by the new law pushed by President Barack Obama. Among the coverage changes that took effect Thursday: parents may keep children on their policies until they are 26 years old; and, lifetime caps on coverage are eliminated. Ending the caps on spending will raise the price of premiums on Anthem’s various plans from 0.5 percent to 22.9 percent.” (Editorial, “Obamacare Raises Cost Of Insurance,” The New Haven Register [CT], 9/26/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “There’s No Such Thing As Shovel-Ready Projects.” (“The Education of a President,” New York Times Magazine, 10/13/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  “There Are Almost 100 Shovel-Ready Transportation Projects Already Approved In Colorado Which Are Beginning To Create Jobs.”  (President Obama, Remarks, 8/15/09)

•    OBAMA: “When I met with the governors, all of them have projects that are shovel ready, that are going to require us to get the money out the door, but they've already lined up the projects and they can make them work.” (President Obama, Meet The Press, 12/07/08)

•    OBAMA: “…I Can Say That 14 Days After I Signed Our Recovery Act Into Law, We Are Seeing Shovels Hit The Ground.” (President Obama, Remarks At The Department Of Transportation, 3/3/09)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “The Recovery Act, As We Call It, Provides A Necessary Jolt To Our Economy To Implement What We Refer As ‘Shovel-Ready’ Projects, meaning projects that were on the books that were needed in the municipalities and the states that would improve the quality of life for our constituents, the competitiveness of our businesses, but were unable to be funded.” (Vice President Biden, Remarks At Progressive Governance Conference, 3/28/09)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI): “Shovel-Ready Infrastructure Projects Are The Most Immediate Way To Create Jobs And Get The Economy Moving Quickly. The Recovery Plan Includes $48 Billion In Funding For Ready-To-Go Road, bridge, rail and other projects to immediately and directly create jobs.” (Sen. Levin, Congressional Record, S.2304, 2/13/09)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CA): “Local People Are Saying To Us, Please, Senators, Do Something To Help Us Get Out There, Spend The Money On These Shovel -Ready Projects--the highways, the bridges, the transit systems, the sewer systems, the safe drinking water issues. Help us do it.” (Sen. Boxer, Congressional Record, S.1383, 2/3/09)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): “I Have Heard Colleague After Colleague Say: Well, What Job Is Going To Be Created Through This Spending? Well, Let Me Tell You Very Directly. If You Have A Shovel-Ready Project, We Can Put That Into Place Tomorrow. There Are Thousands Of Them Across The Country Ready To Go.” (Sen. Kerry, Congressional Record, S.1806, 2/6/09)

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): “We Have Shovel-Ready Projects In Every Jurisdiction In My Home State Of Maryland.” (Sen. Cardin, Congressional Record, S.1386, 2/3/09)

SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FL): “This Economic Recovery Bill … Funds Shovel-Ready Infrastructure.” “This economic recovery bill that we will consider this week begins to move us in the right direction. Now, there ought to be some tweaks and some iterations on it, and we are going to consider that in the amendatory process, but let's consider the thrust of it. It funds shovel -ready infrastructure--those projects that are ready to go--which are going to strengthen our Nation while creating jobs in the construction sector.” (Sen. Nelson, Congressional Record, S.1372, 2/3/09)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): “We Need To Repair This Infrastructure, And The Beauty Of Doing It As Part Of This Package Is That It Puts People To Work Immediately On Projects That Are Shovel Ready.” (Sen. Feinstein, Congressional Record, S.1380, 2/3/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “… My Bottom Line Is, Are We Creating 4 Million Jobs?” (President Obama, Press Conference, 2/9/09)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: In “18 Months” Stimulus Will “Create 3.5 Million Jobs … Literally Drop-Kicks Us Out Of This Recession.” “This is a monumental project, but I think it's doable. But I just think we got to stay on top (inaudible) and we got to stay on top of that on a weekly basis. Because this is about getting this out and spent in 18 months to create 3.5 million jobs and do -- to set -- tee this up so the rest of the good work that's being done here literally drop-kicks us out of this recession and we begin to grow again and begin to employ people again.” (Vice President Biden, Remarks At Recover Plan Implementation Meeting, The White House, 2/25/09)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “This Bill Creates 3.5 Million Jobs.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 2/11/09)

SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D-WA): “The House And Senate Have Taken A Critical Step Forward By Passing The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act. It Will Give Our Economy The Jolt It Needs, Create Jobs, And Help Get Our Country Back On Track.” (Sen. Murray, Floor Remarks, 2/11/09)

SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI): “The Economic Recovery Package Is Not Perfect But It Does Take Important Steps To Create Or Save Millions Of Jobs While Addressing Our Country’s Energy And Infrastructure Challenges.” feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “And It's A Very Significant Stimulus, 3.5 Million To 4 Million Jobs Is A Lot Of Jobs.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 3/8/09)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CA): “So When You Spend Money On Infrastructure, You're Not Wasting Money, You're Investing Money, And It Has A Return. And Of Course, We Know, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. That's What We're All Focused On.” (Sen. Boxer, Press Conference, 12/8/08)

RAHM EMANUEL: “‘The Most Important Number Here For This Recovery Plan Is How Many Jobs It Produces, not how many votes it gets,’ Mr. Emanuel said.” (“House Passes Stimulus Plan With No G.O.P. Votes,” The New York Times, 1/28/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “If You Like Your Current Plan, You Will Be Able To Keep It.  Let Me Repeat That:  If You Like Your Plan, You'll Be Able To Keep It.” (President Obama, Remarks At The White House, Washington, D.C., 7/21/09)

“3M Co. Confirmed It Would Eventually Stop Offering Its Health-Insurance Plan To Retirees, Citing The Federal Health Overhaul As A Factor.” (“3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/4/10)

•    “The St. Paul, Minn., Manufacturing Conglomerate Notified Employees On Friday That It Would Change Retiree Benefits Both For Those Who Are Too Young To Qualify For Medicare And For Those Who Qualify For The Medicare Program. Both Groups Will Get An Unspecified Health Reimbursement Instead Of Having Access To A Company-Sponsored Health Plan.” (“3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/4/10)

•    “The Maker Of Post-It Notes And Scotch Tape Said It Made The Announcement Now To Give Retirees A Chance To Explore Different Options During This Year's Benefit-Enrollment Period, according to a 3M memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. A 3M spokeswoman, Jacqueline Berry, confirmed the contents of the memo.” (“3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/4/10)

“The Principal Financial Group Announced On Thursday That It Planned To Stop Selling Health Insurance, Another Sign Of Upheaval Emerging Among Insurers As The New Federal Health Law Starts To Take Effect. The Company, Based In Iowa, Provides Coverage To About 840,000 People Who Receive Their Insurance Through An Employer.” (“Insurer Cuts Health Plans As New Law Takes Hold,” The New York Times, 10/1/10)

“At The Principal Financial Group, The Company’s Decision Reflected Its Assessment Of Its Ability To Compete In The Environment Created By The New Law. ‘Now scale really matters,’ said Daniel J. Houston, a senior executive at Principal, which is headquartered in Des Moines. ‘We don’t have a significant concentration in any one market.’ Because Principal Financial is primarily in the business of asset management, it decided not to make the investments needed to remain competitive as a health insurer, Mr. Houston said. The company, which focused on plans sold to small businesses for their employees, does not participate in other markets, like selling policies to individuals or for people enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.” (“Insurer Cuts Health Plans As New Law Takes Hold,” The New York Times, 10/1/10)

“In The Case Of Principal Financial, UnitedHealth Group’s Insurance Plans Have Agreed To Offer Coverage To Principal’s Customers. … ‘It’s just going to drive the little guys out,’ said Robert Laszewski, a health policy consultant in Alexandria, Va. Smaller players like Principal in states like Iowa, Missouri and elsewhere will not be able to compete because they do not have the resources and economies of scale of players like UnitedHealth, which is among the nation’s largest health insurers. Mr. Laszewski is worried that the ensuing concentration is likely to lead to higher prices because large players will no longer face the competition from the smaller plans. ‘It’s just the UnitedHealthcare full employment act,’ he said.” (“Insurer Cuts Health Plans As New Law Takes Hold,” The New York Times, 10/1/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “If You Like Your Current Plan, You Will Be Able To Keep It.  Let Me Repeat That:  If You Like Your Plan, You'll Be Able To Keep It.” (President Obama, Remarks At The White House, Washington, D.C., 7/21/09)

•    OBAMA: “If You Have Health Insurance And You Like It, And You Have A Doctor That You Like, Then You Can Keep It. Period. And I Won’t Sign A Bill That Somehow Would Make It Tougher For People To Keep Their Health Insurance. … We certainly would not be signing a bill that somehow prevented somebody from getting, from keeping insurance that they’ve already got or allow private insurers to sign up new folks if they’re providing good service.” (President Obama, Conference Call With Liberal Bloggers, 7/20/09)

•    OBAMA: “First, If You Are Among The Hundreds Of Millions Of Americans Who Already Have Health Insurance Through Your Job, Medicare, Medicaid, Or The VA, Nothing In This Plan Will Require You Or Your Employer To Change The Coverage Or The Doctor You Have.  Let Me Repeat This:  Nothing In Our Plan Requires You To Change What You Have.” (President Obama, Remarks To A Joint Session Of Congress (As Prepared), 9/9/09)

•    OBAMA: “So If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep Your Plan.” (President Obama, Remarks, Strongsville, OH, 3/15/10)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “Nobody Is Going To Mess With Your Benefits. Nobody. All We Do Is Make It Better For People On Medicare.” (“Biden Tells Seniors Overhaul Won’t Hurt Medicare,” The Associated Press, 9/23/09)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “In Fact, One Of Our Core Principles Is That If You Like The Health Care You Have, You Can Keep It.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.8642, 8/3/09)

•    REID: “If You Like What You Have, You Can Keep It.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 10/20/09)

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “Folks Who Are Satisfied With Their Current Health Insurance Coverage Could Keep It. People Would Not Be Required To Change Health Plans.” (Finance Committee, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 10/14/09)

SEN. CHRIS DODD (D-CT): “I Say At The Outset, If You Like What You Have, You Get To Keep It, Choose Your Doctor, Hospital, Choose The Insurance Program You Have.” (Sen. Dodd, Congressional Record, S.8663, 8/3/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

“Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Has Notified Customers That It Will Drop Its Medicare Advantage Health Insurance Program At The End Of The Year, Forcing 22,000 Senior Citizens In Massachusetts, New Hampshire, And Maine To Seek Alternative Supplemental Coverage. The decision by Wellesley-based Harvard Pilgrim, the state’s second-largest health insurer, was prompted by a freeze in federal reimbursements and a new requirement that insurers offering the kind of product sold by Harvard Pilgrim — a Medicare Advantage private fee for service plan — form a contracted network of doctors who agree to participate for a negotiated amount of money.” (“Harvard Pilgrim Cancels Medicare Advantage Plan,” Boston Globe, 9/28/10)

•    Lynn Bowman, Vice President Of Customer Service At Harvard Pilgrim’s Office In Quincy: "We Know That Cuts In Medicare Are Being Used To Fund National Health Care Reform." (“Harvard Pilgrim Cancels Medicare Advantage Plan,” Boston Globe, 9/28/10)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “If You Like Your Current Plan, You Will Be Able To Keep It.  Let Me Repeat That:  If You Like Your Plan, You'll Be Able To Keep It.” (President Obama, Remarks At The White House, Washington, D.C., 7/21/09)

•    OBAMA: “If You Have Health Insurance And You Like It, And You Have A Doctor That You Like, Then You Can Keep It. Period. And I Won’t Sign A Bill That Somehow Would Make It Tougher For People To Keep Their Health Insurance. … We certainly would not be signing a bill that somehow prevented somebody from getting, from keeping insurance that they’ve already got or allow private insurers to sign up new folks if they’re providing good service.” (President Obama, Conference Call With Liberal Bloggers, 7/20/09)

•    OBAMA: “First, If You Are Among The Hundreds Of Millions Of Americans Who Already Have Health Insurance Through Your Job, Medicare, Medicaid, Or The VA, Nothing In This Plan Will Require You Or Your Employer To Change The Coverage Or The Doctor You Have.  Let Me Repeat This:  Nothing In Our Plan Requires You To Change What You Have.” (President Obama, Remarks To A Joint Session Of Congress (As Prepared), 9/9/09)

•    OBAMA: “So If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep Your Plan.” (President Obama, Remarks, Strongsville, OH, 3/15/10)

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: “Nobody Is Going To Mess With Your Benefits. Nobody. All We Do Is Make It Better For People On Medicare.” (“Biden Tells Seniors Overhaul Won’t Hurt Medicare,” The Associated Press, 9/23/09)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “In Fact, One Of Our Core Principles Is That If You Like The Health Care You Have, You Can Keep It.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S.8642, 8/3/09)

•    REID: “If You Like What You Have, You Can Keep It.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 10/20/09)

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “Folks Who Are Satisfied With Their Current Health Insurance Coverage Could Keep It. People Would Not Be Required To Change Health Plans.” (Finance Committee, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 10/14/09)

SEN. CHRIS DODD (D-CT): “I Say At The Outset, If You Like What You Have, You Get To Keep It, Choose Your Doctor, Hospital, Choose The Insurance Program You Have.” (Sen. Dodd, Congressional Record, S.8663, 8/3/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

•    “Democratic Leaders Are Not Optimistic They Will Achieve The 60-Vote Total Needed…” (“Democrats Not Optimistic Ahead Of Senate Vote On Outsourcing Bill,” The Hill, 9/28/10)

•    “Democrats Admit They Don't Have Enough Votes…” (“Bill To Slow Overseas Hiring Debated,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/10)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was interviewed on ABC’s ‘This Week’ Sunday. The following are excerpts from the program:

On American Dissatisfaction With Democrat Leadership:
“We've seen the government taking over banks, insurance companies, car companies, nationalizing the student loan business. We're on a path to double the national debt in five years and triple it in ten. Most Americans think what's been happening around here for the last year-and-a-half is extreme, and they want to change it.”

On Tax Hikes in a Recession:
“This has been the tax rate for a decade. We're talking about raising taxes in the middle of a recession. And most economists think that's the worst thing you could do. The president himself was saying that was the worst thing you could do a year-and-a-half ago. Raising taxes in the middle of a recession is a particularly bad idea, and Republicans don't think that's what we ought to do.”

On Dem Disagreement Over Tax Hikes:
“It was the Democrats themselves who decided not to have this debate… And you know why? Thirty-one Democrats in the House, five Democrats in the Senate said they agreed with me, that we ought not to raise taxes in the middle of a recession… The question is, do we want to raise taxes in the middle of a very, very tough economy? All the Republicans think that's a bad idea, and a substantial number of the Democrats think the same thing.”

On Reducing The Deficit:
“Let me tell you how to reduce the deficit. There are two things you need to do. Number one, you need to get spending down, and number two, we need to get the economy going.”

On Cutting Spending:
“Let me give you an example of something we've done already. Senate Republicans offered to freeze the top line on next year's appropriations at essentially what we spent this year. The difference between that and what the president asked for over a ten-year period would be $300 billion.”

On Republican, Tea Party Enthusiasm:
“So there's all kinds of energy in the Republican Party or people who are inclined to vote Republican. The Tea Party people are not all Republicans, some independents. But one thing we know about everybody who's been active in this movement, we know none of them are going to go out and vote Democrat on November 2nd.”

On The Choices Of Primary Voters:
“Well, they won the primary fair and square against real competition, and they emerged as the nominee. And Sharron Angle is running no worse than dead even against the majority leader of the Senate. I think that's pretty significant.”

“I don't think the people of Nevada should be attacked for the choice they made in the primary. And the candidate is running dead even with the majority leader of the United States Senate. Obviously, the people of Nevada think that she's a very good candidate or she wouldn't be running even with someone of such power and significance.”

On Change After November:
“I think the way to get bipartisan compromise is to not have one side have an overwhelming majority. And the American people know that if they're frustrated with this administration, it won't change on November 2nd. The president will still be there for at least two more years. But they can take the first step toward moving this government back toward the political center, and maybe even a little bit right of center, if there's a very good election.”
 

“Republicans On The Finance Committee And On The House Ways And Means Panel Have Made Several Requests — The Most Recent One Last Week — That Berwick Testify. He Has Not Yet Appeared Before A Congressional Panel In His Current Position.” (“Latest GOP Request Is For Hearing On Health Insurance Premiums,” CQ, 9/20/10)

“Berwick Has Not Appeared Before Lawmakers Since President Obama Appointed Him To The Job July 7 During A Congressional Recess.” (“GOP Senators Ask Recess Appointee Berwick to Request His Own Hearing,” CQ, 9/14/10)

DONALD BERWICK: “The Decision Is Not Whether Or Not We Will Ration Care—The Decision Is Whether We Will Ration With Our Eyes Open.”  (“Rethinking Comparative Effectiveness Research,” An Interview with Dr. Donald Berwick, Biotechnology Healthcare June 2009)

DONALD BERWICK: “I Fell In Love With The NHS…To An American Observer, The NHS Is Such A Seductress.”  (Donald Berwick, “Celebrating Quality 1998-2008,” speech at London Science Museum, September 30, 2008)

DONALD BERWICK: “I Think The NHS Is One Of The Great Human Health Care Endeavors On Earth. It Can Be An Example For The Whole World, An Example, I Must Say, That The United States Needs Now More Than Most Other Countries Do.” (“Power” by Donald Berwick, speech to 17th annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care, December 2005)

DONALD BERWICK: “One Of The Reasons I Love The NHS Is Because It Is Political, Because The Political Voice Properly Owned Is The Voice Of The People.” (“A Case of US and Them—The HSJ Interview: Don Berwick” by Paul Dempsey, Health Service Journal April 10, 2003)

DONALD BERWICK: “I Admit To My Own Devotion To A Single-Payer Mechanism As The Only Sensible Approach To Health Care Finance I Can Think Of.” (Foreword to Quality in the Veterans Health Administration: Lessons from People Who Changed the System (Jossey-Bass, 1996) by Donald Berwick, p. xi)

DONALD BERWICK: “Denying Patients A New Treatment: A Doctor Working In An NHS Trust Thinks It Is Wrong That His Patients Will Be Denied A New Treatment For Cancer.  Should He Contact The Local Media?  Should The Trust Punish Him If He Does?  …  The “Cooperation” Principle Suggests That The Doctor Should Cooperate With His Colleagues And Implies That Contacting The Media Would Not Be Helpful.  But The “Openness” Principle Means That The Committee Should Be Open With Patient, Doctors, And The Community On Why It Is Denying Patients A Drug. ...  If The Trust Has Lived By The Principles And The Doctor Has Not, Then It Might Be Legitimate To Punish Him.” (“Refining and Implementing the Tavistock Principles for Everybody in Health Care” by Donald Berwick et al., BMJ September 15, 2001, p. 618)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

•    CALIFORNIA: “Ioannis A. Kazanis, A Spokesman For The California Insurance Department, Said That Starting Oct. 1, Commercial Premiums Would Rise An Average Of 19 Percent For Individual Policies Sold By Aetna And By Blue Shield Of California, 16 Percent For Health Net Policies And 14 Percent For Those Sold By Anthem Blue Cross, A Unit Of Wellpoint.” (“Medicare Advantage Premiums To Fall In 2011,” The New York Times, 9/22/10)

•    CONNECTICUT: “Health Insurers Are Asking For Immediate Rate Hikes Of More Than 20 Percent In Connecticut For Some Plans, Citing Rising Medical Costs And Federal Health Reform Laws As Reasons. Both issues — the new federal health care reform and rising medical costs — are significant drivers of the increases, according to filings by insurers with state regulators that were reviewed by The Courant.” (“Health Insurers Seeking Rate Hikes Of More Than 20 Percent In Connecticut,” The Hartford Courant, 9/15/10)

•    WASHINGTON STATE: “Whopping Rate Increases Are Coming Soon For Many People With Individual Health-Insurance Policies. ... Regence BlueShield's rate increase an average 16.5 percent was one of the highest. It was topped by Asuris Northwest Health, a Regence subsidiary, with an increase of 23.7 percent.” (“Steep Rate Hikes On Way For Individual Health Insurance,” The Seattle Times, 9/7/10)