Dick Durbin: “Yesterday President Bush went to Battle Creek, MI. The purpose of his visit, of course, was in preparation for the…”

“Yesterday President Bush went to Battle Creek, MI. The purpose of his visit, of course, was in preparation for the election but also to raise a critical issue, and the issue is the same one we have discussed this morning: health care in America. President Bush was outspoken in attacking Senator John Kerry for having the nerve to suggest we need to change health care in America. In criticizing John Kerry, President Bush, quoting from the morning newspaper, said John Kerry's proposal would be ultimately a Government takeover of medicine. It would be a massive, complicated blueprint to have our Government take over decisionmaking in health care. Bureaucrats would become the decisionmakers. Once again, the Republican Party and President Bush wave the bloody shirt that if anyone suggests a change in the health care system in America today that they are calling for socialism and more bureaucracy. What the President refuses to acknowledge and what the leadership on the Republican side of the Senate refuses to acknowledge is the health care system in America is in crisis. Since this President took office, census figures show 3.8 million more Americans are uninsured. In addition, the Kaiser Family Foundation study released last week said families are paying on average $1,000 more out of pocket for health coverage this year than in the year before the President was elected.”