On the recordMarch 20, 2010
Mr. Speaker, let me highlight several sweetheart deals in the health care legislation that I think are a real problem to me, many of my colleagues, and many Americans. We have the Rocky Top Vote Swap. Tennessee is quite familiar with the runaway costs associated with government-run health care as seen with TennCare. Payoffs from Washington, though, have a way of smoothing thing things over. So the bill includes tens of millions of extra Medicaid dollars for the State of Tennessee. The Big Sky Buy-Off. A special provision was inserted in the Senate bill recently that provided taxpayer-funded health care to only certain Montana residents. U Conn. As part of the original health care bill, a mysterious provision was inserted providing a whopping $100 million in a cryptically worded provision for a new medical facility. After some investigation, it was discovered that Connecticut was the lucky recipient of this taxpayer dollar giveaway. The Bismarck Bank Job. A helpful provision was inserted in the reconciliation package. While most American banks will be cut off from subsidies for private student loans when the government takes over the student loan industry, which is part of the bill we will vote on tomorrow, banks in North Dakota will still see the cash rolling into their banks. PhRMA'ing for Favors. As has been reported, Democratic staffers were huddled behind closed doors over the last few weeks with PhRMA lobbyists as they crafted the final bill.…





