“If the ideas in the bill aren’t good enough to get the votes, then it shouldn’t pass.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke on the Senate floor regarding how the Reid healthcare bill is based on politics and payoffs instead of policy and principle. Excerpts from his speech are below:
“We should be looking at ways to improve health care for all Americans. Improve the quality. Make it more affordable. Make it more available to people. Give them the access they need.
“I brought four amendments the other day after Senator Reid brought his massive amendment. Each was rejected and they were things that would actually improve this bill to make it better for Americans.
“So I stand here looking at this at a time when headline after headline and editorial after editorial talks about just about how very bad it is the way that this bill is being pushed forth.
“This isn’t what legislating in America is all about. We’re better than this. If you need to do these sorts of things to get a 60th vote, then the bill isn’t good enough to pass.
“If the ideas in the bill aren’t good enough to get the votes, then it shouldn’t pass.
“In this country, we look for bipartisan solutions to the big issues of the day.
“That’s what we did in the Wyoming legislature–major issues passed with overwhelming numbers.
“That’s what happened in this country throughout the course of this country, the big bills have come forth with large numbers of supporters and that’s how you get the country to follow you.
“Not trying to force through a vote and buy a vote here and buy a vote there to just squeak by with the minimum amount of support.
“That’s not the way to change policies that are going to affect every member of the United States, everyone personally–and one-sixth of our economy.
“That is not the way to do it. It’s not been the way. It’s not — it shouldn’t be the way. It should never be the way again.
“I’m looking for one Democrat to stand up and say, ‘this isn’t the way– I’m not going to vote for this thing.”