Jeff Bingaman: “first I commend my colleague, Senator Kennedy, for his leadership on this very important issue and all the many other…”

“first I commend my colleague, Senator Kennedy, for his leadership on this very important issue and all the many other issues on which he provides great leadership in the Senate. I rise today to oppose this Senate bill, 1955. I believe it is well intentioned. I have the greatest respect for Senator Enzi and the role he is playing as chairman of the Committee on Health and Education, on which I am privileged to serve. However, I also believe this particular proposal, S. 1955, is flawed and has many potential unintended consequences which could have a devastating impact on millions of Americans who currently have health insurance coverage. It is for that reason that I am a strong supporter of the alternative to which Senator Kennedy referred; that is, the alternative Senators Durbin and Lincoln have put together which I will speak about in more detail in a minute. I also suggest an alternative proposal that would bridge the gap between these two approaches and would build on the bipartisanship we clearly need in order to make any progress on health care issues in the remaining weeks of this Congress, which are diminishing rapidly, as all are well aware. First and foremost, we need to keep in mind the important tenet that is referred to often when we talk about health care; that is, first, do no harm. That is what physicians are taught when they go to medical school. Clearly, that is something we should be taught when we come to the Senate.…”