On the recordMarch 17, 2011
I thank the Senator from Louisiana, and I look forward to being in New Orleans this weekend, I might add. It is a great State and a great city. Madam President, there is a pending amendment by Senator Hutchison dealing with medical waivers, which prompts me to come to the floor for a minute and talk about that issue as it affects Georgia today, and in particular to talk about it in the context of what our Governor and legislature are having to deal with right now in terms of the mandates of the health care bill signed on March 23 of last year by President Obama. In fact, on the signing of that bill, there were a couple of statements made, reflecting back on that long debate, and I want to repeat them right now. One was made by Speaker Pelosi, saying about a month before the House passed the health care bill, that you had to pass it to find out what is in it. That was a funny statement at the time, but it became prophetic as we are beginning to discover over and over the unintended consequences of the legislation on our States and on medicine. Secondly, Vice President Biden declared the magnitude of the impact of the health care bill. That magnitude is turning out to be higher cost, less benefit, and more regulation on our States. In particular, I want to bring two points up to talk about why this whole issue of medical waivers is so important.…
