On the recordNovember 14, 2013
Mr. President, Webster's dictionary defines the word success as ``the correct or desired result of an attempt.'' I want to discuss the definition of the word success as we consider the Affordable Care Act. On the day the bill was signed into law, President Obama said the following: Today we are affirming that essential truth, a truth every generation is called to discover for itself, that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. Such grand words for where we are today on that piece of legislation. Today the success of the law that now bears his name, ObamaCare, is defined in much more meager terms. Today success is when the folks at Health and Human Services got up this morning, ObamaCare had not shut down, and when the folks at HHS go to sleep tonight, their day will have been a success if ObamaCare did not have to shut down. Think of all that, think of all that we have been through to this point after 4 years, the fight over the bill and the extreme legislative means used to pass it through Congress. Then think about the 2010 and 2012 elections. Think about the Supreme Court decision that effectively repealed half of the law's coverage. Think of all the changes made to the law through regulation to make sure ObamaCare launched. Think of the postponing of the employer mandate. Think of the postponing of lifetime limits. Think of the impact this law has had on our economy.…





