Time	Speaker	Text
00:00:01	>>	"WASHINGTON JOURNAL" CONTINUES.
00:01:59	>>	IS IMPROVING IT'S STILL NOT UP TO THE LEVEL OF THE HEALTH CARE OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. THE IDEA THAT A BUREAUCRAT SOMEWHERE WILL MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND COVERAGE I THINK IS UNATTAINABLE TO MOST AMERICANS WHAT MOST AMERICANS WANT IS THE ABILITY TO AFFORD THE HEALTH CARE TO GET IT WHEN THEY WANT IT, WHERE THEY WANT IT AND BY WHOM THEY WANT IT. AND I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A GREAT THING FOR THE COUNTRY COMING TOGETHER. IF WE SOLVE THE REAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE SPEND $2.4 TRILLION IN THIS COUNTRY ON HEALTH CARE. AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY GET WELL OR PREVENT IT FROM GETTING SICK. SO WE DON'T NEED MORE MONEY IN HEALTH CARE WHAT WE NEED IS BETTER VALUE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT.
00:08:42	>>	FIRST QUESTION I AGREE, THEY DIDN'T GET DONE WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE. THEY WEREN'T BOLD. I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BROUGHT THIS TO THE FOREFRONT. I SAID IN MY EARLIER STATEMENT I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. THE THIRD POINT THAT HE MADE -- SECOND POINT IS, UNDER OUR PLAN THEY'D STILL HAVE THE TAX CREDIT. WHETHER THEY'RE LAID OFF OR NOT. TO BE ABLE TO BUY ANY INSURANCE. SO YOU TAKE COBRA PLUS A TAX CREDIT PLUS THE ABILITY. AND REMEMBER, THAT $200 EVERY TWO WEEKS IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST OR A FOURTH OF THE COST OF THE HEALTH CARE THAT SHE'S ACTUALLY RECEIVING. WHY BE CRITICAL OF A GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN, INSURANCE PLAN? AND I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS. THE FACT IS, IS THE GOVERNMENT HADN'T PROVED ITSELF RESPONSIBLE IN ANY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM THAT HAS RUN SO FAR. YOU PUT IT INTO THE POLITICAL NATURE. WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENED WITH THE PUBLIC PLAN IS IF IN FACT, YOU CAN GET INSURANCE FROM A PUBLIC PLAN CHEAPER, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO MOVE THERE. AND WHAT IS ESTIMATED IS 120 MILLION AMERICANS WILL LEAVE THE INSURANCE THEY HAVE TODAY AND GO TO A GOVERNMENT PLAN. THE CHEAP WITH THAT IS THE GOVERNMENT PLAN WON'TING FISCALLY VIABLE. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE'LL CONVERT IT FROM A GOVERNMENT PLAN TO A GOVERNMENT MEDICARE PLAN, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE FOR MEDICARE BUT THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO FUND IT. SO RATHER THAN PASS ON ANOTHER $38 TRILLION TO OUR CHILDREN WHAT WE NEED TO DO -- AND I AGREE WITH YOU. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ISN'T REALLY INSURANCE. IT'S PREPAID MEDICAL EXPENSE FOR WHICH THEY EXTRACT A LARGE COMPONENT THAT DOESN'T EVER GO TO HELP 18%, 19% THAT NEVER HELPS ANYBODY GET WELL. IT DOESN'T PREVENT ANYBODY FROM GETTING SICK. SO WHAT OUR PLAN DOES IS SAY WE'RE GOING TO FORCE COMPETITION. AND THROUGH FORCED COMPETITION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PRICES GO DOWN. BUT YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE THAT NOBODY GETS DENIED. AUTOMATIC RENEWABILITY. AUTO ENROLLMENT YOU CAN ROLL OUT BUT YOU GET AUTO ENROLLED. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 16 MILLION PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID WHO AREN'T GETTING IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T EFFECTIVELY PUT THEM ON THE ROLLS WHERE AS THIS AUTO ENROLLED THEM AND THEY CAN OPT OFF IF THEY DON'T WANT IT. SO I THINK THE -- LOOK. IF WE MAKE HEALTH CARE PARTISAN, WE WON'T FIX IT. AND I THINK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREE. WE HAVE A CHEAP. WE WANT TO GET ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE SYSTEM. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY PART COMPANY, YOU CAN CREATE A PUBLIC PLAN, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS -- I'M TALKING ABOUT THE REAL COSTS THROUGHOUT WHEN YOU PURCHASE HEALTH CARE -- YOU HAVEN'T MADE IT SUSTAINABLE. THE CHEAP IN AMERICA IS HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE BEEN RISING AN AVERAGE OF 2.7% PER YEARS. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD COMPETITIVE FORCES. AND THE THING THAT WILL MAKE FORCES COMPETITIVE IS INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR -- EMPOWERING THE INDIVIDUAL RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THOSE PEOPLE COMPETE FOR THEIR DOLLARS.
00:19:02	>>	AS FAR AS PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY IS CONCERNED, AS FAR AS YOUR PROPOSAL, HOW DO YOU KEEP MONEY COMING IN TO GIVE FOLKS THE MONEY TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE?
00:36:22	>>	A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PLEASED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THAT ALL OF HIS NOMINEES THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING FOR THE SUPREME COURT WERE WOMEN, ALL OF HIS TOP CANDIDATES WERE WOMEN. AND WITH SONYA SOTOMAYOR, PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED. OF COURSE, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
00:36:42	>>	I THINK SHE SOUNDS LIKE A VERY INTERESTING AND GOOD NOMINEE. AS A WOMAN, I'M PROUD THAT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER WOMAN ON THE COURTS. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT I WISH HER WELL.
00:53:48	>>	IT'S 8:59 A.M. EASTERN TIME. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS DROPPING ITS PLAN TO CAP SALARIES AT FIRMS RECEIVING GOVERNMENT BAILOUT MONEY WHILE ADDING A PAY CZAR TO MONITOR THE FIRMS RECEIVING THE AID. AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXPECTED TODAY. .
00:54:42	>>	THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL DRAFTED BY A TROOPERGROUP CALLS FOR INCREASING NUCLEAR POWER. NO NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1978. THE BILL CALLS FOR INCREASED OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND AND OFFSHORE. THE HOUSE IS IN AT 10:00 A.M. EASTERN ON THE SENATE SIDE, PATRICK LEAHY'S DECISIONS TO BEGAN SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SO THE MAYOR ON JULY 4 HE13. MEANWHILE, THE BROTHER OF JUDGE SOTOMAYOR SAYS THE CRITICS APPEALS JUDGE DO NOT KNOW HIM. HE CALLED HIS 54-YEAR-OLD SISTER TOUGH AS NAILS. HE HAD ASSERTIONS THAT -- ASSERTIONS DEROGATORY AND INSULTING. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RECEIVED IN FREE TRAVEL AND LODGING IS LEGAL AND THAT IT SAVES TAXPAYERS MONEY. THE GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS SAY IT ALLOWS DONORS TO EXERT INFLUENCE FOR A SMALL INVESTMENT. U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE HEARS ARGUMENTS TODAY ABOUT WHETHER WALTER KENDALL MIERS AND HIS WIFE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE HELD UNTIL THEY GO TO TRIAL. THE FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE AND HIS WIFE, ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR CUBA, HAVE BEEN BEHIND BARS SINCE THERE ARRESTED THURSDAY. "THE BOSTON GLOBE" IS REPORTING THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES CO. HAS HIRED GOLDMAN SACHS TO MANAGE THE POSSIBLE SALE OF OPEN CODE THE BOSTON GLOBE." THE REPORT SAYS THEY HAVE BEGUN ACCEPTING BIDS.
00:00:04	HOST	SENATOR COBURN, SENATOR BAUCUS SAYS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS FALL THAT A HEALTH CARE BILL WILL BE ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK. DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN? I HOPE SO. WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN HEALTH CARE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS COSTS, ACCESS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS OUR GLOBAL EXET YITNESS -- COMPETITIVENESS. WE NOW HAVE OVER 17% OF OUR G.D.P. SPENT ON HEALTH CARE. IT'S ALMOST TWICE WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD SPENDS. THERE'S NO QUESTION WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS. WE HAVE CARE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD DOESN'T HAVE. BUT WE NEED TO FIX IT. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT. THE QUESTION IS AND THE REAL IMPORTANT DETAILS IS, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? DO YOU HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER MORE OF IT OR DO YOU ALLOW REAL ALLOCATION AND REAL ACCESS FOR PEOPLE, MAINTAINING PERSONAL CHOICE, PERSONAL FREEDOM AND PERSONAL TIME? HEALTH SCARE ABOUT INDIVIDUALS. WE TEND TO THINK OF IT AS A PROGRAM, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT PEOPLE. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT, AND WHAT THEIR PHYSICIAN THINKS THEY NEED NOT SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THAT. WHETHER IT BE AN INSURANCE COMPANY OR THE GOVERNMENT THINKS.
00:01:10	HOST	AND A PUBLIC PLAN, AS IT'S BEEN CALLED?
00:01:16	GUEST	FIRST OF ALL, JUST PUT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR A MINUTE, WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT DO WELL ON HEALTH CARE NOW AND WHAT DOES IT DO WELL FINANCIALLY? MEDICARE IS $38 TRILLION WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFER TO OUR CHILDREN THAT WE HAVEN'T PAID FOR IN MEDICARE. IT HAS $80 BILLION AT A MINIMUM OF FRAUD A YEAR. MEDICAID IS UNSUSTAINABLE AS WELL. THE STATES ARE DROWNING IN MEDICAID COSTS. AND IT HAS ABOUT $40 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD. SO IF YOU LOOK AT INDIAN HEALTH CARE AND WHAT WE PROMISED TO GIVE PEOPLE AND THEN DON'T OR YOU LOOK AT V.A., EVEN THOUGH V.
00:02:47	HOST	THE DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT CONTROLLING COSTS, DO YOU SEE ANYTHING SUBSTANTIAL COMING OUT OF THAT?
00:02:55	GUEST	I THINK THE WAY YOU CONTROL COSTS IS TO CREATE A TRANSPARENCY WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT IT COSTS AND GIVE THEM DECISION-MAKING POWER WITH SOME ECONOMIC -- SMALL ECONOMIC RISKS. I HAD AN ORTHOPEDIST IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY TOLD A STORY, AN INTERESTING STORY. A LADY HAD WHAT SHE THOUGHT -- HAD HURT HER KNEE. HE THOUGHT SHE HAD A TORN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT, THE LIGAMENT THAT HOLDS THE FEMUR TO THE TIBIA. SHE COULDN'T RELAX. HE SPENT ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES. STILL COULDN'T GET HER TO RELAX TO DO A GOOD EXAM. SO HE WROTE AN M.R.I. FOR HER. SO SHE CAME BACK IN A WEEK AND SHE HADN'T HAD THE M.R.I. BUT SHE HAD A GLASS OF WINE IN HER HAND. SHE SAID, I THINK IF I DRINK THIS 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOU EXAM ME, I'LL BE ABLE TO RELAX. WELL, THE FACT IS SHE DID. HE COULD DO AN EXAM. DID HE HAVE A TORN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE. HE OPERATED AND FIXED HER KNEE. BUT HE DIDN'T SPEND THE $1,800 ON THE M.R.I. BECAUSE IT WASN'T NECESSARY. THE POINT IS, SHE HAD SOME SKIN IN THE GAME SO SHE DECIDE RATHER THAN PAY $300, $400 OUT OF HER OWN POCK TOTE GET THIS M.R.I -- POCKET TO GET THIS M.R.I., SHE WOULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RELAX AND BE EXAMED. MOST OF THE TIME IN THE COUNTRY SOMEBODY IS MAKING A DECISION ABOUT THEIR CARE ON THE PHYSICIAN THEY CHOOSE AND THE WAY THEY WANT IT AND ALSO HAS SOME SLIGHT ECONOMIC COST IN THE GAME. AND WE'LL LOWER COSTS. WE SPENT $300 BILLION ON DEFENSIVE MEDICINE TESTS A YEAR THAT NOBODY NEEDS, FOR SURE, EXCEPT DOCTORS FEEL LIKE THEY NEED BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THEY MIGHT HAVE A LAWSUIT. WE HAVE COST SHIFTING OF $200 BILLION. RIGHT THERE WE COULD SAVE THAT $500 BILLION FIRST YEAR. FIRST YEAR IN HEALTH CARE IF WE DESIGNED A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES IN A WAY WHERE PEOPLE HAD CONTROL OF IT AND DOCTORS DIDN'T THINK ABOUT GETTING SUED MORE THAN THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR PATIENTS.
00:05:00	HOST	SENATOR TOM COBURN, OUR GUEST UNTIL 9:00. IF YOU WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS -- YOU ENVISIONED THIS POWERMENT, I GUESS, TO FOLKS IN TERMS OF A TAX CREDIT? GIPP YES. WHAT WE THINK IS IT'S HIGHLY UNFAIR. THE TAX CODE TODAY IS HIGHLY UNFAIR. IF YOU'RE AN UPPER MIDDLE INCOME OR ABOVE, YOU GET AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $2,700 IN TAX BREAKS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH GETTING YOUR HEALTH CARE. IF YOU'RE POOR OR YOU'RE LOWER MIDDLE INCOME, YOU GET ABOUT $100. WHAT WE PROPOSE IS TO EQUALIZE THE TAX CODE AND GET EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTRY, EVERY FAMILY IN THE COUNTRY $5,700. THAT RIETZS EACH YEAR AS A DECREED -- RISES EACH YEAR AS A REFUNDAL CREDIT FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE. YOU CAN KEEP THE INSURANCE YOU HAVE. IF YOU WANT TO STAY THERE, YOU STAY THERE. YOU GOAT CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT. -- GET TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT. THE STUDIES SAY WE'LL GET EVERYBODY COVERED IN A WAY THAT GIVES THEM PERSONAL CHOICE, GIVES THEM THE FREEDOM TO ACCESS IT WHERE THEY WANT AND HOW THEY WANT IT. AND WE'LL ALSO ALLOW THEM TO CHOOSE THE TIME AND THE ACTUAL PHYSICIAN. THINK ABOUT MEDICAID FOR A MOMENT. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ON MEDICAID. YET 40% OF THE PHYSICIANS IN THIS COUNTRY -- THE COST TO THEM IS GREATER THAN THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR IT. SO WE'VE PROMISED ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HEALTH CARE. BUT WHAT WE'VE REALLY DONE IS SAY YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 60% OF THE PHYSICIANS OUT THERE. YOU CAN'T HAVE THE 40%. IT'S MUCH HIGHER WITH SOME SPECIALISTS THAT WON'T TAKE MEDICAID. UNDER THIS PLAN WE WOULD TAKE MEDICAID, MAKE IT A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION, PLUS ADD THE $5,700. SO WE HAVE EVERY MEDICAID PATIENT AT A LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION THAT'S ABOVE WHAT THE AVERAGE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY IS TODAY. THEY GOT AN INSURANCE POLICY. THEY NO LONGER HAS A STAM TEMPERATURE ON THEIR FOREHEAD THAT SAYS YOU'RE A MEDICAID PATIENT. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS GIVING THEM AN EQUAL BASIS AS EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY. SO WE GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME ACCESS TO THE SAME QUALITY AND THE SAME CHOICE. AND WHILE WE DO THAT, WE SAVE THE STATES $900 BILLION.
00:07:35	HOST	FIRST CALL IS FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS. DEMOCRATS LINE. GO AHEAD. CALLER: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE SENATOR THREE QUICK QUESTIONS. FIRST QUESTION, EIGHT YEARS THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE CHEAP. SECOND QUESTION. MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED AND PAYING $200 EVERY TWO WEEKS ON INSURANCE. THOSE PEOPLE THAT JUST GOT LAID OFF THOSE JOBS, THE INSURANCE DIDN'T GO WITH THEM. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PAY THEIR INSURANCE BILLS? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KEEP INSURANCE? AND THE THIRD QUESTION, WHY DOT REPUBLICANS KEEP CALLING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PLAN SOCIALIZED MEDICINE WHEN IT'S NOT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE? IF YOU'RE UNSATISFIED WITH THE INSURANCE -- SATISFIED WITH THE INSURANCE YOU HAVE NOW, YOU BE KEEP IT. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL FURNISH INSURANCE FOR YOU. WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IS BRING DOWN THE PRICES. THE BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES DON'T WANT THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP RUNG RAMPANT ON CHARGING PEOPLE FOR INSURANCE.
00:11:58	HOST	FLORIDA. MIKE ON OUR REPUBLICAN LINE. CALLER: GOOD MORNING, SENATOR COBURN.
00:12:04	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: I CAN'T HELP BUT AGREE WITH YOU MORE. IF YOU CAN ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME, CAN YOU NAME A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT HITS THESE TWO BENCHMARKS? NUMBER ONE, THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. AND NUMBER TWO, THAT HAS COME IN AT THE COST THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TOLD US THAT IT'S GOING TO COST US. CAN YOU NAME ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS EVER HIT THAT?
00:12:33	GUEST	I CAN'T NAME THAT OUTSIDE OF MEDICARE. THERE ISN'T ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT TRULY COMES IN ON BUDGET ON TIME ANYMORE. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE PURCHASE. THE CHEAP IS -- THE FORCES THAT ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES IN HEALTH CARE. WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED IN HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE THE FORCES COMPETITIVE. ASK YOURSELF WHY WE HAVE $5 BILLION A YEAR JUST IN FRAUD ON DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THROUGH MEDICARE. WHY? BECAUSE THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE IT'S A GOVERNMENT -- IT'S DESIGNED TO BE DEFRAUDED. WE SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY TRYING TO CHASE THOSE DOLLARS. IF THERE WERE REAL TRANSPARENCY IN THE MARKET, PEOPLE WOULDN'T BUY X WHEELCHAIR FOR THIS WHEN THEY COULD BUY X WHEEL CHAIR FOR THIS. WE HAVE ONE CASE FROM FLORIDA, YOUR STATE, THAT WAS SOLD SO MANY TIMES THEY COLLECTED $5 MILLION ON ONE WHEELCHAIR AND NEVER DELIVERED THE WHEELCHAIR. THIS CAME OUT OF DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA. SO THE POINT IS, WHO IS BEST DESIGNED TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT, WHERE YOU WANT IT, AND WHO YOU WANT TO GET IT? YOU ARE. AND IF THERE'S AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WITH YOU AND THAT YOU NEVER ALLOW SOME BUREAUCRAT, WHETHER IT'S INSURANCE OR THE GOVERNMENT TO GET BETWEEN YOU AND THE PROVIDER. YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOUR ECONOMIC AND YOUR HEALTH INTEREST. ONE OTHER POINT THAT HAS TO BE DISCUSSED IS WE DON'T SPEND MONEY ON PREVENTION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. AND THE ONLY WAY WE TRULY GET OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE DILEMMA WE'RE IN IS TO PREVENT THE CHRONIC DISEASE THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY. TODAY WE HAVE SICK CARE. WE DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE. AND WE HAVE FIVE DISEASES THAT CONSUME 75% OF ALL OF OUR HEALTH CARE DOLLARS. ALL OF THEM ARE PREVENTIBLE. IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE EMPHASIS WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR BILL WHERE WE TAKE THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY SPEND AND PUT IT INTO PREVENTION AND WELLNESS. AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAN COVER EVERYBODY WITH A GOVERNMENT PLAN. BUT IF YOU DON'T FIX THE SUSTAINABILITY, IF YOU DON'T FIX THE DECREASE IN THIS INCREASE IN COSTS, PUTTING EVERYBODY IN A GOVERNMENT PLAN OR EVERYBODY THAT'S NOT INSURED TODAY IN A GOVERNMENT PLAN DOESN'T FIX THAT. SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON WELLNESS AND ON PREVENTION. AND THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE. AND THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OUT THERE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPANY'S SAFE -- COMPANY SAFEWAY, THEY HAVE 200,000 EMPLOYEES, HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE RISEN ONE-HALF OF 1%. THAT'S 40% LESS THAN THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THERE? THEY INCENTIVIZE THEIR EMPLOYEES INTO PREVENTION AND WELLNESS AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE. THEY AGGRESSIVELY MANAGED IT. THEY GOT -- THEY ACTUALLY PAID THEM MONEY TO DO THINGS. AND CONSEQUENTLY, THEIR EXPENDITURES ON CHRONIC DISEASES HAVE DROPPED THROUGH THE FLOOR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOW MANAGING THEM AND THEY'RE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GETTING SO THEY'RE CONTROLLING BLOOD PRESSURE, BODY MASS INDEX. THEY'RE INCENTIVIZING WELLNESS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AS A EXOAN YENTD OF ANY PLAN THAT -- COMPONENT OF ANY PLAN THAT WE PUT FORWARD.
00:15:56	HOST	TEXAS, GOOD MORNING. OUR INDEPENDENT LINE. CALLER: GOOD MORNING.
00:15:59	HOST	GOOD MORNING.
00:16:00	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: GOOD MORNING. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE REPUBLICAN'S ARGUMENT ABOUT THE H.M.O. SYSTEM FOR FOUR YEARS. IT'S BEEN A FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT.
00:16:12	GUEST	I AGREE. CALLER: ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT NOT HAVING A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM -- AND I AM ON MEDICARE AND I LOVE IT. IT'S SOCIALISM. WOULD YOU DEFINE SOCIALISM FOR ME, PLEASE?
00:16:27	GUEST	I'M NOT SURE I SAID MEDICARE WAS SOCIALISM I MAY HAVE. I CERTAINLY MAY HAVE IN THE PAST. SOCIALISM IS WHEN YOU TAKE FROM THOSE AND GIVE TO SOMEBODY ELSE ON A PLAN WITH THE GOVERNMENT AT THE CENTRAL AREA MANAGING THE SYSTEM. MEDICARE WORKS. BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. WE'VE GOT A $38 TRILLION. YOUR MEDICARE RIGHT NOW IS BEING PAID FOR BY THE TAX THAT ARE GOING TO FALL ON YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SO SURE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT WORRY YOU IS WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE RATIONING IN MEDICARE. MEDICARE DECIDED THIS MONTH THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY. YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A HIGHER RISK, MORE INVASIVE PROCEDURE TO SCREEN YOU FOR COLON CANCER. AND THEY MADE THAT ON MONETARY DECISIONS RATHER THAN ON THE BEST PRACTICE FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL. AND THAT MAY BE OK AND IT SOUNDS OK. BUT IF I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND MAYBE HAS HIGH RISK FOR HAVING A SIGNIFICANT SEDATIVE TO HAVE A COLONOSCOPY VERSUS I CAN HAVE HIM SWALLOW A CAMERA IN A LITTLE PILL AND PUT HIM THROUGH A TEST, WHICH IS BETTER? IS IT BETTER FOR THAT PATIENT TO PUT HIM AT THE RISK OF HAVING A COLONOSCOPY WITH A POTENTIAL COLON PERFORATION OR IS IT BETTER TO RUN HIM THROUGH A SCANNER WITH A CAMERA AND LOOK AT THEIR COLON THAT WAY? SO THE POINT IS, IS GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE LEADS TO RATIONING. WE HAD IT WITH A SIGNIFICANT -- A SIGNIFICANT CHEAP WITH SOME DRUGS. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ON CHEMOTHERAPY. THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE SERVICES DECIDED THEY WOULD TELL US WHEN WE COULD AND COULDN'T USE THAT MEDICINE BECAUSE THEY WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON IT. THAT'S FINE. IT PROBABLY WAS ABUSED. BUT THE RESULT WAS, SOMEBODY WITH SEVERE CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE NEEDS MORE BLOOD AS FAR AS HEMOGLOBIN THAN SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE IT. IF THEY'RE BOTH UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY, THEY REQUIRE A DIFFERENT TRANSITION ZONE OF WHICH YOU WOULD GIVE SOMETHING TO STIMULATE THE RED CELL PRODUCTION. SO THE LAST THING I WANT IS SOMEBODY AT THE GOVERNMENT DECIDING WHAT YOU SHOULD GET IN TERMS OF YOUR CARE. AND THE WHOLE IDEA THAT WE PASSED THE STIMULUS BILL WAS COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS. IF YOU READ THE SCHOLARS OUT OF ENGLAND, THEY'LL TELL YOU THE WORST THING THEY DID FOR THE HEALTH CARE OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE WAS TO USE ITS EFFECTIVENESS TO GUIDE THEM IN GOVERNMENT-MAKING DECISIONS ON WHAT CARE YOU GOT AND DIDN'T GET.
00:19:12	GUEST	IT'S A ZERO TAX INCREASE AND ZERO REVENUE INCREASE WHAT WE DO IS WE SAY IF YOU'RE GETTING YOUR HELD INSURANCE FROM YOUR EMPLOYER AND YOU LIKE THAT, YOU STAY THERE. BUT THE VALUE OF THAT HEALTH CARE WILL BECOME TAXABLE. NOW, LET'S SAY YOU'RE NOT BUYING, YOU'RE GETTING IT FROM YOUR EMPLOYER. THE AVERAGE PERSON MAKING $60,000 A YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD GET A $200 TAX -- $2,700 TAX CUT. SO THEY'D STILL HAVE THEIR INSURANCE PLUS $2,700 A YEAR MORE. ALL OF THIS CAN BE ROLLED OVER INTO A HEALTH CARE SO YOU CAN BUY ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED WHETHER IT'S YOUR DRUGS, YOUR GLASSES, YOUR HEARING AID OR FOR YOUR KIDS. IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WE DID IS IT'S A REVENUE NEUTRAL. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS EQUALIZING THE TAX BENEFIT FOR HEALTH CARE TO EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME.
00:20:04	HOST	WASHINGTON, D.C., GOOD MORNING. OUR DEMOCRATIC LINE. CALLER: GOOD MORNING. HELLO, C-SPAN AND SENATOR CO-BURN. NICE TO TALK TO YOU.
00:20:13	GUEST	GOOD TO TALK TO YOU. CALLER: I THINK WE DO HAVE RATIONING IN THIS COUNTRY ALREADY. IT'S CALLED SHOW ME THE MONEY. I GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR A STEROID NOSE MEDICATION, TOOK TO THE PHARMACY. THE PHARMACIST SPENT ABOUT 10 MINUTES TYPING MY INFORMATION IN AND CAME UP WITH $96. NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS GOING TO PAY ANTONIO BANDERAS TO DO THE COMMERCIALS, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S QUITE A BIT MORE THAN YOU PAY FOR A GENERIC.
00:20:49	GUEST	I AGREE. CALLER: IT'S KIND OF AMAZING WHAT WE PAY FOR IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I DO BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WE PROBABLY DO SUBSIDIZE MUCH OF THE REST OF THE
00:20:59	GUEST	WE DO. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AMERICANS, THE PRICE THAT THEY PAY FOR DRUGS SUBSIDIZE THE REST OF THE WORLD'S DRUGS. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. CALLER: WE DO. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THOUGH -- MY COMMENT IS I THINK WE NEED A KITCHEN SINK APPROACH HERE. I DON'T NOAD KNOW IF WE'RE GETTING IT FROM EITHER SIDE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS BRING OUT THE TAX CREDIT ARGUMENT FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IT SEEMS IN THIS CASE IT'S ALSO THE CASE. BUT DEMOCRATS, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL IS YET. BUT HAD WE TAKEN A KITCHEN SINK APPROACH, HAVE WE BROUGHT IN HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND OFFICIALS FROM EVERY SINGLE OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, A QUANTITY TAKE QUANTITATIVELY AND EQUAL TAKE THIVELY BETTER HEALT -- QUALITATIVELY BETTER HEALTH CARE THAN WE HAVE?
00:21:51	GUEST	THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I HAVE SPENT TIME ON THE SWISS PLAN, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THE WORLD. THEY SPEND 11% OF THEIR G.D.P. THEY HAVE HEALTH CARE EQUIVALENT TO US. EVERYBODY OVER THERE IS ON A PLAN. BUT THEY HAVE OPTIONS. YOU SEE ALL SORTS OF HEALTH INSURANCE INNOVATION FROM THEM. LET ME COMMENT ABOUT YOUR NASAL MEDICATION. WE'RE STILL THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE A TRUE COMPETITIVE MARKET IN PHARMACEUTICALS. AND SO YOU GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR IT. THE ECONOMIC CHOICE IS YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN AN OVER-THE-COUNTER NOW AND EFFECTIVE HAD 80% OF THE SAME EFFECT OR BOUGHT A GENERIC STEROID NASAL INHALER AT ABOUT 1/3 THE COST. POINT IS -- AND I DON'T KNOW OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. BUT IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE, WE DON'T -- IN TERMS OF YOUR DRUGS, YOU DON'T MAKE AS GOOD OF A CHOICE. BUT IF YOU HAVE PERSONAL COVERAGE, WHAT HAS IS PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS, WHICH YOU MAY HAVE, TO PAY $90 END UP NOT BUYING ANYTHING. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE NONCOMPLIANCE OF WHAT YOUR PHYSICIAN MAY SAY I YOU NEED, THE NONCOMPLIANCE RISES BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THE ACCESS. MOST REPUBLICANS DISAGREE ME ON A REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT. MOST OF THEM DON'T LIKE THAT. MY GOAL WAS TO FIX IT TO WHERE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME SHOT OF HEALTH CARE AND EVERYBODY GETS COVERED AND EVERYBODY GETS FREEDOM TO CHOOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTROLLING IT. SO IF YOU'RE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE EMPLOYER-BASED INSURANCE, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT GETTING A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE POLICY. FIRST OF ALL, YOUR HOME'S NEVER PUT AT RISK, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GO BRUPTD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOB BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. AND ALL OF THOSE POLICIES COVER SCREENING AND PREVENTION OUTSIDE OF THE DEDUCTIBLE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IT. I THINK HIS IDEA OF THE KITCHENIN SINK, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME, 20 OR 30 OF US IN THE SENATE, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, HAVE SPENT LISTENING TO EXPERTS, LISTENING TO HOW THEY DO IT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, LISTENING TO NEW IDEAS. AND WE ALL THE WANT TO GET THE HEALTH CARE CHEAP FIXED. THE QUESTION IS, IT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT, IS HOW WE DO IT. AND THE ONE PLACE WRITE REALLY DISAGREE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA IS WE DON'T NEED TO RAISE TAXES ON ANYBODY TO FIX HEALTH CARE. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER $2 TRILLION IN THE HEALTH CARE. WHAT WE NEED IS BETTER VALUE FOR WHAT WE'RE GETTING TODAY.
00:24:47	HOST	IN THAT THEME THE PRESIDENT CALLING FOR A PAY-AS-YOU-GO RULE IN ORDER TO CONTROL SPENDING.
00:24:58	GUEST	WELL, I WANT TO BE NICE. THE FACT IS, IT'S 15 TIMES ALREADY THIS YEAR AND THE LAST YEAR WE EXEMPTED PAY-GO RULES. PAY-GO DOESN'T WORK. BECAUSE ANYTIME THERE'S A TOUGH CHEAP SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE, SAY, OH, LET'S -- TIME-OUT, LET'S MAKE PAY-GO COUNTED SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE SPENT $3.6 TRILLION IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS IN THIS COUNTRY. AND EVERY TIME WE'VE SAID PAY-GO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WAR SUPPLEMENT, WE'RE GOING SAY PAY-GO. WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES. TIME-OUT, PAY-GOOD DOESN'T COUNT. SO EVERY TIME THERE'S A TOUGH VOTE WHAT DO PEOPLE DO? OVERRIDE PAY-GO AND SAY IT DOESN'T COUNT SO PAY-GO DOESN'T WORK. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THERE HAS TO BE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ARE WILLING TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES BASED ON WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY. AND DISAPPOINTINGLY, THE CONGRESS REFUSES TO DO THAT. IT'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNTIL WE CHANGE THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. BECAUSE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THEIR NEXT ELECTION THAN THEY ARE THE NEXT GENERATION. AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS A HARD CHOICE THAT CAUSES THEM THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTY.
00:26:04	HOST	OUR GUEST IS SENATOR TOM COBURN WITH US ABOUT ANOTHER HALF-HOUR. PENTAGON CITY, VIRGINIA. JOHN ON OUR REPUBLICAN LINE. CALLER: GOOD MORNING, SENATOR.
00:26:12	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: A COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE. YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED AND THINGS YOU'VE LOOKED AT. FOLLOWING DESERT STORM WE REALIZED WE HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN 100% GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION CRADLE-TO-GRAVE SYSTEM THAT IS MILITARY MEDICINE. WE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF REFORMS INCLUDING WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE SMALL THINGS LIKE OUTSOURCING A BID FOR FAMILY CARE AND THEN ADDING SMALL COPAYS, AS MUCH AS $5, AND FOUND THAT THE LINES FOR SERVICE DECREASED BY AS MUCH AS 80% WHEN PEOPLE HAD TO SIMPLY MAKE THE CHOICE TO PAY A LITTLE BIT. YOU MENTIONED SAFEWAY. I BELIEVE THAT REFORM WAS DRIVEN LARGELY BY A GROCERY WORKER'S STRIKE YEARS AGO THAT PARALYZED THE INDUSTRY OUT THERE BECAUSE OF A PROPOSED CHANGE IN HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THAT ADD A CO--PAY FEATURE. AND THE UNIONS REBELLED AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF A SIMPLE COPAY. IN THE END THAT'S PROVEN TO BE A BIG FEATURE THAT'S WORKED. MY QUESTION, SIR, IS WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE MILITARY MODEL, A MODEL THAT HAS SUCCEEDED IN THE SENSE THAT OUR READINESS TO SUPPORT THESE WARS OVER A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME WAS ACHIEVED AND FOR REFORMS THAT WERE STARTED? ABOUT 18 YEARS AGO. THANKS.
00:27:28	GUEST	WELL, WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT. THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICISM OF THE MILITARY HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FAMILIES IN TERMS OF AVAILABILITY. IT'S ESSENTIALLY QUASI H.M.O. SYSTEM THAT LIMITS ACCESS IN CERTAIN AREAS. THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE FOR YOU IS, WHY SHOULDN'T WE ALLOW OUR MILITARY TO HAVE THE SAME THING EVERYBODY ELSE HAS? AS A PROVIDER IN OKLAHOMA WHICH HAS MINIMUM MILITARY PEOPLE BUT HAS A LOT OF MILITARY FAMILIES WHO RESIDE THERE, WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS SERVING, THEY MARKET LID DECREASED THE ACCESS -- MARKETEDLY DECREASED THE ACCESS UNDER THE MILITARY. MY CLINIC WASN'T AND AVAILABLE TO TREAT PATIENT WE WANTED TO TREAT FOR YEARS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CONTROL IT. THE POINT IS, WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TO INCENTIVIZE BETTER BEHAVIOR BOTH IN TERMS OF PREVENTION AND WELLNESS BUT ALSO INCENTIVIZE ECONOMIC CHOICE. THE MILITARY HAS GIVEN US SOME. BUT I THINK THE MILITARY IS FAR FROM WHERE -- WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FOR OUR MILITARY. I WOULD LIKE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO GO WHEREVER THEY WANT AND CHOOSE THE PROVIDER THAT THEY WANT AND NOBODY SAY HERE'S THE LIST. AND I AGREE THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME ECONOMIC SKIN IN THE GAME FOR EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE IN HEALTH CARE AS FAR AS PURCHASING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE OUGHT TO BE TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND PRICE. WE DON'T HAVE PRICE TRANSPARENCY AND WE DON'T HAVE QUALITY TRANSPARENCY. FACT IS, THE DOCTORS KNOW WHO THE BAD DOCTORS ARE BUT EVERYBODY ELSE DISNLTD. WHY SHOULD THAT BE? WHY SHOULD YOU NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO JUDGE THE QUALITY OF THE PROVIDER THAT'S GIVING YOU SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT CARE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
00:29:16	HOST	WE HAVE AN E-MAILER WHO ASKED ABOUT HOSPITALS SAYING HOW YOUR PLAY WOULD IMPACT HOSPITALS. THEY SAY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE REPUBLICAN MANTRA OF EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS IS ANY DIFFERENT? IF PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO SEE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN FOR ROUTINE CARE, HOW CAN THEY AFFORD AN E.R. BILL OF THOUSANDS?
00:29:37	GUEST	EVERYBODY UNDER OUR PLAN WOULD SEE THE PHYSICIAN OF THEIR WHITE HOUSE, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, WE SAVE $200 BILLION A YEAR IN COST SHIFTING. WE WILL MAKE UNDER THIS PLAN, THE E.R.'S WOULD BECOME GHOST ROOMS. THEY'LL BE BACK TO JUST TRULY FOR EMERGENCIES AND NOT THE PRIMARY CARE. SO I WOULD DISPUTE THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY -- IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE PATIENTS CHOICE ACT, YOU'LL FIND IN THAT ACT ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY THAT DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE TODAY AT A PRIMARY CARE. PART OF OUR CHEAP IS IF WE GET ALL 46 MILLION ENROLLED, WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TO CARE FOR THEM. BECAUSE WE HAVE INCENTIVIZED THROUGH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DOCTORS TO NOT GO INTO PRIMARY CARE. LESS THAN ONE IN 50 DOCTORS WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL WENT INTO PRIMARY CARE. WHY WAS THAT? IT'S BECAUSE WE PAY THEM LESS THAN WE PAY AN ACCOUNTANT. AND YET THEY HAVE FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS MORE EDUCATION THAN AN ACCOUNTANT HAS. AND YET WE PAY THEM LESS. AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS DIRECTED THAT THROUGH THE MEDICARE PAYMENT MODEL AND THE MEDICAID PAYMENT MODEL ON HOW MUCH YOU'LL REIMBURSE PRIMARY CARE. SO WE HAVE THIS BIG SHIFT AWAY FROM PRIMARY CARE. WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE PREVENTION. PAY DOCTORS FOR PREVENGSZ, PAY PRIMARY CARE SO WE GET MORE DOCTOR GOING BACK INTO PRIMARY CARE.
00:31:02	HOST	CONNECTICUT FOR SENATOR
00:31:06	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: YES, GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED NOW, BEEN OVER A YEAR, AND WENT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF MY EMPLOYER'S $700-PLUS COBRA PLAN FOR MEDICAL WHICH HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED NOW. I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT WITH PLEASE I CAN'T. I DO NOT -- WANT TO SEEM UNGRATEFUL BUT I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I AM RECEIVING TOO MUCH MONEY COLLECTING IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MEDICAL FROM THE STATE, MEDICAID PLAN. BECAUSE I DO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M DESPERATELY IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO TURN. YOU KNOW, IT'S EITHER COLLECT AND PAY MOST OF MY BILLS, YOU KNOW, JUST GENERAL HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE OR MAYBE CUT THAT IN HALF AND GET THE MEDICAID PLAN UNTIL I FIND A JOB. THEN I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PAY ALL THE OTHER UTILITIES. NECESSITIES, YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO THINK THAT THAT'S MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE CUTOFF IS.
00:32:50	HOST	WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THANKS.
00:32:54	GUEST	UNDER OUR BILL IF IT WERE TO BECOME LAW, SHE WOULD HAVE $5,700 THAT WOULD BE IN THE SUPPLEMENT, IN ADDITION TO WHAT SHE HAS TODAY THAT COULD BE APPLY FOR A PLAN WHETHER SHE CONTRACTED WITH A DOCTOR FOR A YEAR FOR ALL OF HER CARE, FOR X AMOUNT, OR SHE BOUGHT A $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE PLAN FOR $2,700 AND HAVE THAT OTHER TO HER EXPENSES FOR HEALTH CARE IN BETWEEN THERE. THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO HER. EVEN THOUGH SHE WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR THE MEDICAID PROGRAM IN CONNECTICUT. SO THE POINT IS WE DON'T LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET EVERYTHING FOR FREE AND IT'S ZERO -- YOU KNOW, FIRST DOLLAR COVERAGE. IT MEANS THAT THERE IS A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO BROKE THAT THEY ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE ACCESS. THERE IS A MEANS TO DO THAT THAT'S FAIR TO EVERY AMERICAN, THAT WE TREAT EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY THE SAME.
00:33:57	HOST	THERE WILL BE A HEARING JULY 13. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
00:34:01	GUEST	IT MEANS A LOT OF HARD WORK. I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE DELAYED IT. WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO GET THAT NOMINATION THROUGH BEFORE JUSTICE SOUTER RETIRES. THERE'S 4,000 CASES. AND FOR ME TO DO A GOOD JOB AND TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATE -- I'VE GOT STAY. I'M SPENDING AN HOUR A DAY ON IT RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY THAT WE'VE GOT THE CONFLICT OVER TIME. ACTUALLY, I HEARD THE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR LAST NIGHT. IT SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF CHILDREN ARGUE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ON IT. FACT IS, IT'S NOT ABOUT TIME, IT'S ABOUT MAKING A REALLY GOOD, INFORMED DECISION. AS LONG AS WE COMMIT TO GET THE VOTE DONE AND TIME HAVE JUSTICE TAKE PLACE OF THE RETIRING JUSTICE, THAT SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH. I MAY BE READY BY JULY 13, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE I HAVE TO SET ASIDE EVERYTHING ELSE, INCLUDING HEALTH CARE TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE. THAT'S THE OTHER THING. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT JULY 13-RBGS WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE WHICH IS GOING MAKE IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR SEVERAL OF US. THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON OUR SIDE THAT ARE ON FINANCE. AND THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE ON THE HEALTH COMMITTEE. SO IT MAKES IT. SO THAT'S SIX OUT OF SEVEN ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A HEALTH CARE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ATTENDING A SUPREME COURT HEARING. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK OF SEEING THIS. THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS TO MAKE A GOOD, INFORMED CHOICE AND TO DO GOOD HOME WORK SO THAT WE CAN ASK THE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS OF JUDGE SOTOMAYOR.
00:35:48	HOST	ONE OF THE OTHER AGREEMENTS IS THAT WITH JOHN ROBERTS IT TOOK 73 DAY?
00:35:54	GUEST	TO ME IT DOESN'T MATTER. I DON'T CARE HOW LONG WE TOOK ON ANYBODY. I WAS AT THOSE HEARINGS. THE FACT IS LET'S DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND LET'S GET IT DONE BY THE TIME IT'S NEEDED. BUT IT'S CHILDISH. WHAT I HEAR GOING ON BACK AND FORTH IS CHILDISH. LET'S JUST DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND GET IT DONE. QUIT FIGHTING LIKE A BUNCH OF LITTLE KIDS.
00:36:14	HOST	THE FORMER FIRST LADY WEIGHED IN ON THIS DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF DAY AGO ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA." HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.
00:36:57	HOST	FIRST THOUGHT?
00:36:58	GUEST	I AGREE WITH HER I THINK WE NEED MORE WOMEN ON THE COURTS. WE NEED THE BALANCE. WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT THAN MEN IN TERMS OF HOW THEY LOOK AT THINGS. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE A HISPANIC NOMINATED AS WELL. I THINK THAT ADDS TO THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR COURT. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT RECENTLY IN OUR COUNTRY, AND THE THING THAT REALLY HOLDS US TOGETHER -- WE CAN SAY ALL OF THESE THINGS. THE THING THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A CONFIDENCE THAT WOULD TRULY DO HAVE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THAT YOU CAN TRUST HAVING AN APPROPRIATE HEARING BEFORE THE COURTS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE RULE OF LAW MEANS SOMETHING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS AS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS EVEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS THAT WE'RE UNDERMINING THAT. IF WE UNDERMINE THE CONFIDENCE AND THE RULE OF LAW IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE LOST OUR COUNTRY. AND SO I THINK THE FACT THAT SHE'S HISPANIC, SHE'S A WOMAN, I THINK THAT LENDS TREMENDOUS CREDIBILITY TO THE SUPREME COURT. AND THE QUESTION COMES DOES SHE MEET THE TEST TO HAVE A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT FOR THAT POSITION?
00:38:18	HOST	FROM YOUR READING AN HOUR A DAY OR SO OF HER CASES DOES THAT RAISE ANY QUESTIONS?
00:38:24	GUEST	I DON'T WANT TO GET THERE BECAUSE I MIGHT COMMUNICATE TO HER WHAT I MIGHT ASK. WE WANT -- NOBODY CAN COME AND LOOK AT A CASE WITHOUT HAVING SOME OF THEMSELVES COME AND LOOK AT IT. THE QUESTION ON A GOOD JUDGE, I THINK IS, CAN YOU SEPARATE YOUR EMOTION AND YOUR FEELINGS FROM WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO A JUDGE? WHICH IS, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO LOOK AT THE FACTS OF THE CASE, LAW, AND PREVIOUS DECISIONS AND TO MAKE AN UNBIASED AND UNEMOTIONAL DECISION BASED ON THAT. THAT'S HOW WE BUILD AND CONTINUE CONFIDENCE IN THE RULE OF LAW. AND SO THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION. ARE THERE CASE WHERE'S WE'VE SEEN? YOU KNOW, 4,000 CASES IS A LOT OF CASES TO READ. THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT HAS TO BE ANSWERED. THAT'S WHAT I'LL TRY TO GET TO AS I READ AND STUDY AND LEARN
00:39:23	HOST	BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA. WALTER ON OUR DEMOCRATS LINE. THANKS FOR WAITING. GO AHEAD. CALLER: GOOD MORNING, REPRESENTATIVE.
00:39:30	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: MY OPINION REAL QUICK IS, AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE LOBBYISTS UP THERE THAT CAN HELP SO MUCH OF POWER WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STRAIGHTEN THIS HEALTH CARE OUT. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS ALL YOUR LOBBYIST PEOPLE BE DISCONTINUED IN WASHINGTON AND YOU REPRESENTATIVES GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH THE HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT REPRESENTS THE UNITED STATES.
00:39:59	GUEST	THAT'S A GOOD INPUT. I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT. IF A LOBBYIST CAN INFLUENCE ME TO A DECISION THAT'S OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE TAKEN FOR AN OATH, WHAT'S IN THE BEST LONG-TERM INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY, I SHOULDN'T BE HERE. I DON'T DEFEND LOBBYISTS. AND DON'T DO EARMARKS. AND I DON'T DO THINGS FOR LOBBYISTS. BUT THE CHEAP IS NOT LOBBYISTS. THE PROBLEM IS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. BECAUSE, IN FACT, IF YOU CAN BE INFLUENCED, IF YOU CAN BE PUSHED, IF CAN YOU HAVE AN IMPLIED TIT FOR TAT, WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE BEST THINGS DON'T HAPPEN. SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT INTEGRITY AND THE CHARACTER OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RATHER THAN THE LOBBYISTS. THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERACTS, AND SO MANY AREAS IN OUR COUNTRY, PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE TEACHERS, UNIONS, OR WHATEVER, EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE AN INPUT THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE TO THAT. SO I THINK THE BIGGER CHEAP IS THE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAN IT IS THE LOBBYISTS.
00:41:08	HOST	FLORIDA, GOOD MORNING. OUR REPUBLICAN LINE. CALLER: THANK YOU. IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO TALK TO YOU, SENATOR COBURN. I CALLED C-SPAN, TRYING TO GET IN THREE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR, TALKING ABOUT THE TAX CODE AND HOW IT ASKTSZ OUR COUNTRY. AND WILL ROGERS IN THE 1930'S MADE A SPEECH THAT SAID OUR TAX CODE IN THE STATES WILL TURN OUR NATION INTO A NATION OF LIAR AND CHEATS. AND A NATION OF LIARS AND CHEATS ULTIMATELY WE CAN'T STAND. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I CALLED IN AND GOT SENATOR CONRAD. MENTIONED THIS TO HIM. HE WAS TALKING. I DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO FINISH ABOUT W HIM, BUT HE SAID, WELL, I'M SUPPORTING THE FAIR TAX WHICH YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH. AND I SAID TO HIM, YOU KNOW -- AND NOW HE'S TALKING ABOUT A VAT TAX AND ALL OF THIS STUFF. ACTUALLY, EVERYTHING, HEALTH CARE, ALL OF THIS STUFF, WILL NEVER, EVER GET TAKEN CARE OF UNTIL WE CHANGE THE TAX CODE. NOW THE REASON I MENTION THAT IS THIS. THEY TALK ABOUT LOBBYISTS. AND A LOT OF AMERICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT A LOBBYIST GETS PAID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON K STREET. THE CORPORATION THAT PAY THEM, THEN WRITE THAT OFF AGAINST THEIR TAX LIABILITY WHICH ENDS UP WITH US HAVING THESE LITTLE THINGS PUT IN THE TAX CODE THAT REALLY AFFECTS US. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.
00:42:29	GUEST	I AGREE. I AM A BIG ADVOCATE OF THE FLAT TAX. IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WILL DO FOR NEWS EXPORTS IN TERMS OF HOW IT WILL NORMALIZE OUR TAXES. THE MORE YOU CONSUME, THE MORE YOU WILL PAY. I THINK, LOOK, WE HAVE A TAX CODE THAT NOBODY KNOWS, EVEN THE I.R.S. DOESN'T KNOW. THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE THE SAME ANSWER FUZZ ASK THE SAME QUESTION -- IF YOU ASK THE SAME QUESTION TO TWO DIFFERENT FIELD OFFICES. THINK THAT DOES HAVE SOME IMPACT ON LOBBYING. IF, IN FACT, YOU COULDN'T DEDUCT THE COST OF A LOBBYIST, THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE FEWER LOBBYISTS, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER PRICES. SO I THINK YOU MAKE SOME GOOD POINTS.
00:43:09	HOST	BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA. YOU'RE NEXT. KIM ON OUR INDEPENDENT LINE.
00:43:13	GUEST	GOOD MORNING. CALLER: HI. GOOD MORNING.
00:43:16	GUEST	YOU'RE UP AWFULLY EARLY. CALLER: YES, I AM. BUT I LOVE C-SPAN. AND THERE'S A STATEMENT I WANTED TO MAKE THEN I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR SENATOR COBURN. THANK YOU, SIR. THE STATEMENT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY YOU HAD SENATOR SANDERS ON. AND HE SPOKE ELOQUENTLY AND PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS SAME SUBJECT. IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IF COULD YOU HAVE SOMEONE SUCH AS SENATOR COBURN ON WHO'S TAKING A SLIGHT INDEX POSITION, WELL DRASTICALLY, THAN SENATOR SANDERS. IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU COULD HAVE THEM ON TOGETHER SO YOU COULD HEAR THE CONTRAST AND THE ANSWERS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY SO SENATOR COBURN AS WELL IS THAT I DO DISAGREE WITH YOU PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS. I HAVE NO CHEAP WITH LOBBYISTS. BUT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS LOBBYING VERY STRONGLY, AND THEY ARE POWERFUL IN WASHINGTON. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. AND, YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE INFLUENCED. BUT LET'S LOOK AT IT. IT'S THE REAL WORLD. MY TWO QUESTIONS ARE THIS. THIS HEALTH CARE CHEAP HAS TO BE HANDLED. A FRIEND OF MINE, SHE'S A REGISTERED NURSE, SHE WORKED FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SHE WAS AADJUDICATING SOME OF THESE CASES AS A PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANY. SHE HAD TO LEAVE THAT COMPANY BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO THERE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND WHAT TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE, WHAT PROCEDURES TO APPROVE. AND WHEN SHE LEFT THERE, SO STRESSED, SHE REALIZED HER MISSION WAS JUST HOW TO --
00:44:52	GUEST	DENY CARE. YEAH. CALLER: HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR YOUR RE-ELECTION?
00:45:00	GUEST	THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I JUST ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. I HAVEN'T RAISED ANY MONEY TO SPEAK OF. AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TYPICALLY DIDN'T SUPPORT ME LAST TIME AND PROBABLY WON'T THIS TIME. CALLER: THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY THOUGH IS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE DON'T WANT THEIR HEALTH CARE IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. THAT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU WORK, SIR. AND I THINK THAT WHENEVER THIS CONVERSATION COMES UP, THE GOVERNMENT ALL OF A SUDDEN IS THIS BIG, BAD ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. HOWEVER, WHY WOULD I WANT TO KEEP MY HEALTH CARE AND THOSE DECISIONS IN THE HANDS OF BUREAUCRATS IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY WHO HAVE SHAREHOLDERS?
00:45:44	HOST	WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU.
00:45:45	GUEST	THAT'S A GOOD POINT. THAT'S A FAIR POINT. THE FACT IS WHAT MY HOPE WOULD BE, IS THAT EVENTUALLY WE WOULD ALL MAKE OUR OWN DETERMINEION RATHER THAN WHERE WE WORKED. AND THAT WE WOULD ALL HAVE THE ABILITY, ONE, OF THE RESOURCES TO THE ACCESS TO WHERE WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WANT AND HOW WE WANT IT. A GREAT EXAMPLE WHEN MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FIRST CAME OUT AND THEN THEY GOT CONVERTED TO HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, MY EMPLOYEES GOTTEN ROLLED IN THAT. I WAS IN CONGRESS AND STILL PRACTICING MEDICINE. THEY'VE DONE REALLY WELL ON THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAY AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN COVERED. THE FACT IS THEY'RE COVERED AT A LEVEL TODAY THAT THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BEFORE, PLUS THEY HAD A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK. SO THE POINT IS, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO -- SHE MAKES A GREAT POINT. CAN I TRUST MY EMPLOYER MORE THAN I CAN TRUST THE GOVERNMENT? HERE'S THE THING. YOU HAVE AN OPTION WITH YOUR EMPLOYER. CAN YOU NOT TAKE IT UNDER OUR BILL. CAN YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT-RUN, YOU'RE NOT GOING HAVE REAL OPTIONS. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. A BUREAUCRAT WILL DECIDE. AND A BUREAUCRAT, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO ABLE TO TALK TO. THEY DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL PERSON ARE PERSONNEL WHERE CAN YOU GO IN AND SAY WHAT'S GONG MY HEALTH CARE. YOU'RE GOING HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE BURE BEAUROCRACY WHICH IS ATROCIOUS. THE OTHER POINT IS, I WORK HARD TO TRY TO MAKE THE GOVERNMENT SMALLER NOT BIGGER. IN TERMS OF GETTING RID OF WASTE AND DUPLICATION. AND I'M NOT REAL HAPPY THAT WE FIND OURSELVES WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
00:47:27	HOST	"USA TODAY" TOOK A POLL ASKING WHO SPEAKS FOR THE G.O.P. THE RESULTS ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE THIS MORNING. 13% OF THOSE RESPONDED SAID RUSH LIMBAUGH, 10% DICK CHENEY, 6% EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN JOHN MCCAIN AND NEWT GINGRICH. 1% FOR MICHAEL STEELE WHAT DOT RESULTS SAY ABOUT YOUR PARTY?
00:47:47	GUEST	IT SAYS THAT THEY LACK ONE EFFECTIVE COHERENT LEADER. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. NUMBER TWO IS IT SHOWS YOU THE POWER OF THE PRESS IN TERMS OF LABELING PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, NEWT GINGRICH IS A GREAT IDEA MAN. HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH HIM IN THE HOUSE AS FAR AS LEADERSHIP BUT ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE THERE ARE IN THE COUNTRY. RUSH LIMBAUGH DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. HE SPEAKS FOR A CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT. I DON'T LISTEN TO RUSH LIMBAUGH. BUT HE HAS A VIEWPOINT THAT A LOT OF AMERICANS FOLLOW. DICK CHENEY IS PROBABLY UP THERE NOW BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE WAR ON TERROR AND DEFENDING PAST ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS. SO I THINK YOU CAN MANIPULATE THAT ALL YOU WANT. TO GET KIND OF THE OUTCOME BASED ON WHAT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS CYCLE. THE FACT IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE THIS COUNTRY, WHO BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE A LOT BETTER, A LOT MORE EFFICIENT THAT WE REALLY OUGHT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONSTITUTION AND WHAT THE POWERS SAID WHICH GIVES THE VERY LIST OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. AND ALSO BELIEVE IN THE 10TH AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WHATEVER ISN'T IN THIS LIST IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE STATES OR THE PEOPLE. THAT'S A LEGITIMATE POSITION. THE QUESTION IS, HAS IT BEEN MANAGED WELL? AND HAS IT BEEN ARTICULATED? THE FACT IS, WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT'S WAY TOO BIG. WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. WE'RE GOING TO RUN A $2 TRILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR. WE HAD THE PRESIDENT COME OUT THIS WEEK AND SAY WE HAVE TO SPEED IT UP. IT'S NOT GOING TO DO WHAT IT WANTS. VERY LITTLE OF IT, LESS THAN A THIRD OF IT, IS TRUE STIMULUS. THERE IS A LEGITIMACY TO THE POSITION THAT SAYS THE CITIZENS OUGHT TO BE HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT HOLDING THE CITIZENRY ACCOUNTABLE. AND WE FIND OUR SELVES IN A FIX TODAY -- OURSELVES IN A FIX TODAY WHERE WE'RE OFF THE MARK IN WASHINGTON ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WE HAVE $11.6 TRILLION WORTH OF DEBT. A CHILD BORN TODAY COMES INTO THE WORLD OWING $400,000 FOR THINGS THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO GET A BENEFIT FROM BUT THEIR PARENTS GOT IN TERMS OF THEIR MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH CARE. AND THE ENLY WAY TO REALLY SOLVE THE PRON AND THINK LONG-TERM TO HELP OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN IS TO FIX HEALTH CARE WHERE WE DISOABT CHARGE MORE MONEY TO OUR -- DON'T CHARGE MORE MONEY TO OUR KIDS. WE NEED TO BE REVERSION OUT THE $38 TRILLION OF MEDICARE THAT WE'RE STEALING FROM OUR KIDS FOR OUR HEALTH CARE TODAY. I ASK GRANDPARENTS ALL THE TIME, DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR HEALTH CARE STEALING THE EDUCATION OF YOUR GRANDCHILDREN? WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO THOSE CHOICES. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VOCALIZE THOSE RIGHT NOW BUT REAL CHOICE IS AS WE TAKE FUTURE BENEFITS AWAY FROM OUR KIDS, THEY'RE REAL BENEFITS. WHETHER THEY HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN AFFORD TO OWN A HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE DEBT. WE'RE SPENDING MONEY FASTER -- WE'VE SMENT $3,796,000,000,000,000 ALREADY THIS YEAR AND -- SPENT $3.6 TRILLION ALREADY THIS YEAR. YOU'RE SEEING IN THE FINANCIAL NEWS TODAY WHERE RUSSIANS WILL MOVE OUT RESERVE CHINA. THEY DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS, CHOICES ON PRIORITY, GET RID OF THE THINGS THAT AREN'T WORKING AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR THINGS THAT ARE.
00:51:18	HOST	PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. DEMOCRATS LINE. CALLER: YES. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS CALL. MY QUESTION DEALS WITH THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFIT PROGRAM WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST-RUN FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS IN AMERICA, AS FAR AS I'M CESHED. ONE OF THE REASONS IS HOSPITALS ARE ADECREEDHOSPITALS -- HOSPITALS ARE ACCREDITED. INSURANCE COMPANIES TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST BE UNDER AN ACCREDITED PLAN. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENTS WHICH CONTROL THE RATES IN EVERY STATE. AND SHOULD THERE BE A LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS SAY OF 8%? CAN YOU ANSWER THAT?
00:51:59	GUEST	THAT 8% COMES FROM A CLAIM THAT MEDICARE AND MED WHY OK'D -- MEDICAID HAVE SUCH LOW ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. BUT IN FACT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FRAUD RATE ABOUT 20% THERK DON'T HAVE A LOW RATE. THE FRAUD RATE IN THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET IS ABOUT 1. 5 -- 1.5%. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU TRULY HAVE COMPETITION -- WE DON'T. AND I WOULD AGREE, WE DON'T HAVE COMPETITION IN HEALTH CARE TODAY. BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IF YOU ALLOW INDIVIDUALS THE POWER OF PURCHASING AND YOU HAVE A TRANSPARENT MARKET WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT 19% GO DOWN TO 8% OR 7% BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO COMPETE. WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BILL IS WE ALLOW WHAT'S CALLED RISK READJUSTMENT WHICH MEANS EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY SELLING INTO A STATE OR A REGION, STATES CAN COMBINE IF THEY WANT TO INCREASE THEIR PURCHASING POWER -- IF YOU'RE CHERRY PICKING PATIENTS WHERE YOU'RE ONLY TAKING HEALTHY ONES AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS TAKING CARE OF THE SICK ONES, WE ACTUALLY READJUST RATES SO THAT YOU TRANSFER SOME OF YOUR REVENUE TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WAS DOING IT. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW IT'S NOT A INSURANCE INDUSTRY ABOUT PICKING HEALTH -- PICKING HEALTHY PEOPLE. I THINK YOU'LL SEE ALL OF THAT COME DOWN. I WOULD NOT BE ULTIMATELY -- IF THAT DID NOT WORK, IT WOULD NOT ULTIMATELY BE OPPOSED TO PUT SOMETHING STATUTORY MAXIMUM ON IT. I THINK ONCE WE START MANDATING THE MARKET, THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME INNOVATION. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME EFFICIENCY.
00:53:35	HOST	SENATOR TOM COBURN, REPUBLICAN OF OKLAHOMA. THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US TODAY.
00:53:39	GUEST	GLAD TO DO IT.
00:53:41	HOST	WE WILL HEAR FROM GOVERNOR HOWARD DEAN IN A FEW MINUTES. BUT FIRST, AN UPDATE FROM C-SPAN RADIO.