WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell appeared on CNN’s ‘State of the Union with John King’ Sunday morning. The following are excerpts from the program:

HEALTH CARE REFORM (‘So don't hold your breath. We're not planning on having a 2,000-page bill.’)
On the Democrats’ health care bill:
“The American people are opposed to this particular health care bill. They thought this was all going to be about controlling costs, but, in fact, we've ended up with a $2.5 trillion budget-busting proposal that CBO, the scorekeeper in Congress, tells us, after it's all over, will not control costs.”

“What we don't think is America wants another 2,000-page bill…We don't think that's the way to go. We think we ought to go step by step to improve the system that you and I have just been talking about, some of the steps we would take that would have an impact on the cost of health care. The American people are not complaining about the quality of American health care—they're complaining about the cost of it.  This proposal that the Democrats voted to proceed to last night will explode cost; it will make the situation worse. We think you ought to go in a different direction. So don't hold your breath. We're not planning on having a 2,000-page bill.”

What constituents are saying:
“They are literally screaming -- many of them -- telling us, ‘Please don't pass this. Don't pass this bill.’ If the majority is hell-bent on ignoring the wishes of the American people, they have 60 votes in the Senate. You would think that they might be able to do this, but I believe there are a number of Democratic senators who do care what the  American people think and are not interested in this sort of arrogant approach that everybody -- sort of shut up and sit down, get out of the way, we know what's best for you. 

“Now, we're hearing from the American people, they don't want us to pass it.  So I would -- you know, it's hard to handicap the ultimate outcome, whether the majority will ignore the American people or not, but they'll be heard.  The American people will be heard. They'll either be heard sooner or they'll be heard later.”

On the half-trillion dollars of Medicare cuts in the Reid bill:
“Yes, let me tell you, five years ago we passed, when my side was in the majority, a rather modest reduction in the rate of increase of Medicare, at about $10 billion over five years.  My counterpart, the majority leader, called it ‘immoral.’  This is half a trillion dollars over 10 years, higher taxes on individuals and on businesses, higher insurance premiums for 85 percent of the American people who already have insurance. That's not reform. That's not what the American people thought this was all about. 

On the upcoming health care debate:
“And as we begin the debate, the one thing we know for sure…we know the American people don't want us to do this.”

“Just to look at recent legislative activities on the Senate side, we spent four weeks last Congress on a farm bill, seven weeks creating the Department of Homeland Security a few years ago, eight weeks on an energy bill. The Senate doesn't do things quickly. So we'll have multiple amendments, John, from both sides, a free-ranging, open debate.”

On Republican better ideas versus government control of health care:
“We had myriad health care debates during the period that President Bush was in office and during the time when there was a Republican majority.  The Democrats simply don't want to do incremental changes. John, we feel that we ought to go step by step to fix our current health care system. We do not believe, the government taking over one-sixth of our economy, completely restructuring one-sixth of our economy, is a good idea at any time.  It is a particularly bad idea when we're looking at double-digit unemployment.” 

On the job-killing effects of the Democrats’ health care bill:
“This bill is a job-killer. If you were running a small business, John, and you wanted -- thinking about whether or not to expand employment next year, and you looked at what's coming your way with this health care bill, you're going to have health care taxes, you're going to have expiration of the Bush tax cuts, so your tax rates are going to go up. The cost of hiring additional employees will be greatly exacerbated by the steps that they're taking. This is the wrong direction to go.”

AFGHANISTAN (‘It's really time for the president to make the call.’)
“Look, I wish that we had a better regime in Afghanistan, but this is really about us, not them.  Has everyone forgotten that when the Taliban was running Afghanistan, that's when Al Qaida planned and  Launched the 9/11 attack?  We're not in Afghanistan for any reason other than to protect America. 

“And I had hoped -- and I still hope -- that the president's going to make the right decision here, which is to keep the pressure on. He said during the campaign that the war in Afghanistan was the good war,
the war in Iraq was the bad war.  Well, this is the good war and – by his own definition. And we need to keep on offense against both the Taliban and Al Qaida -- and by the way, this is not just Afghanistan, it's also Pakistan -- if we want to continue to protect the homeland. 

“So I haven't given up hope the president's going to do the right thing. I think, John, the military people are getting a little frustrated with the delay in making the decision. It's really time for the president to make the call.”

ECONOMY (‘Rather than passing this job-killing health care bill, why don't we concentrate on getting the economy in better shape?’)
On ways to improve the economy:
“First of all, we ought not to pass this job-killing health care bill…Second, we ought to repeal the balance of the stimulus package, which has been a failure. We added almost $1 trillion to the debt earlier this year, presumably to hold unemployment below 8 percent, which is what the administration said it would do.  Now unemployment's over 10 percent. In my state, John, it actually went up last month, unemployment’s getting worse.  Rather than passing this job-killing health care bill, why don't we concentrate on getting the economy in better shape?”
 

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “My Vote Today To Move Forward On This Important Debate Should In No Way Be Construed By The Supporters Of This Current Framework As An Indication Of How I Might Vote As This Debate Comes To An End.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 11/21/09)

SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR): “I Am Opposed To A New Government-Administered Health Care Plan As A Part Of Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform, And I Will Not Vote In Favor Of The Proposal That Has Been Introduced By Leader Reid As It Is Written.” (Sen. Lincoln, Floor Remarks, 11/21/09)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “If That's Not Possible, I Will Oppose The Second Cloture Motion--Needing 60 Votes--To End Debate, And Oppose The Final Bill.” (Sen. Nelson, “Nelson: Nebraskans’ Views Must Be Heard In Health Care Debate,” Press Release, 11/20/09)

SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN): “At The End Of The Process, I'll Avoid The Washington Two-Step Of Voting To Go Forward But Then Voting Against The Final Bill … But This Is Just A Starting Point, So At This Point I Do Think There's A Difference.” (“Bayh To Support First Procedural Vote On Healthcare,” The Hill, 11/18/09)

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“A New Study Of Senate Voting Patterns Shows The Chamber Has Approved More Than 97 Percent Of All Bills Subject To A Cloture Motion To Begin Debate — A Finding That Could Undercut Democratic Efforts To Paint A Key Health Care Vote On Saturday As Procedural. According to a new Congressional Research Service report, since 1999 the Senate has approved 97.6 percent of all bills when lawmakers first voted to begin debate.” (“CRS Report Shows Most Bills Subject To Cloture Pass,” Roll Call, 11/19/09)

106th – 110th Congress:

97.6% Of Bills Receiving A Final Vote After Cloture Was Invoked On A Motion To Proceed Passed

 
(“Rates Of Senate Passage Of Measures In Relation To Which Cloture Was Invoked, 106th-110th Congresses,” The Congressional Research Service, P.3, 11/19/09)

 

“During The Time Period Examined, The Only Measure Rejected By The Senate After Cloture Was Invoked On A Motion To Proceed To Its Consideration Was S. 1805 Of The 108th Congress, The Protection Of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act.” (“Rates Of Senate Passage Of Measures In Relation To Which Cloture Was Invoked, 106th-110th Congresses,” The Congressional Research Service, P.2, 11/19/09)

 
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CBO: Medicare Cuts Could “Reduce Access To Care Or Diminish The Quality Of Care.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 1, 17)

“Permanent Reductions In The Annual Updates To Medicare’s Payment Rates For Most Services In The Fee-For-Service Sector (Other Than Physicians’ Services), Yielding Budgetary Savings Of $192 Billion Over 10 Years.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 10)

“Setting Payment Rates In The Medicare Advantage Program… $118 Billion.” “Setting payment rates in the Medicare Advantage program on the basis of the average of the bids submitted by Medicare Advantage plans in each market, yielding savings of an estimated $118 billion (before interactions) over the 2010– 2019 period.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 10)

•    “Medicare Advantage Payment… 2010-2019… -118.1 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, p. 28)

-1.9 Billion Cut To Medicare Advantage Resulting From A Coding Intensity Adjustment: “Subtitle B—Improving Medicare for Patients and Providers; PART III—IMPROVING PAYMENT ACCURACY; Subtitle C—Provisions Relating to Part C; 3203; Application of Coding Intensity Adjustment… 2010-2019… -1.9 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, p. 28)

“Reducing… Payments To Hospitals… $21 Billion From Medicare DSH Payments.” “Reducing Medicaid and Medicare payments to hospitals that serve a large number of low-income patients, known as disproportionate share (DSH) hospitals, by about $43 billion—composed of roughly $22 billion from Medicaid and $21 billion from Medicare DSH payments.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 10)

Independent Medicare Advisory Board Recommendations “Would Reduce Medicare Spending By An Additional $23 Billion.” “The [Independent Medicare Advisory Board] would develop its first set of recommendations during 2013 for implementation in 2015. CBO estimates that—given all of the reductions that would result from other provisions—this arrangement would reduce Medicare spending by an additional $23 billion over the 2015–2019 period.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 11)

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“Penalty Payments By Employers And Uninsured Individuals… 2010-2019… 36 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 6)

 
“A Person Without Insurance Could Be Required To Pay A Financial Penalty, Starting At $95 In 2014 And Rising To $750 In 2016, With A Maximum Of $2,250 For A Family.” (“Senate Health Plan Seeks To Add Coverage To 31 Million,” The New York Times, 11/19/09)

“Firms With More Than 50 Workers That Did Not Offer Coverage Would Have To Pay A Penalty Of $750 For Each Full-Time Worker If Any Of Their Workers Obtained Subsidized Coverage Through The Insurance Exchanges; That Dollar Amount Would Be Indexed.” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 7)

“Excise Tax On High-Premium Plans… 2010-2019… 149 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 6)

“Reid’s Version Of The Cadillac Tax Is Scaled Back From The Version In The Senate Finance Committee, Which Drew The Ire Of Labor Unions, A Key Democratic Constituency, which said it would affect middle-income workers.” (“Reid Unveils Broad Senate Healthcare Plan,” Reuters, 11/19/09)

“Senate Democratic Aides Said The Payroll Tax Increase Would Raise $54 Billion Over 10 Years.” (“Senate Health Plan Seeks To Add Coverage To 31 Million,” The New York Times, 11/19/09)

“Under Current Law, Employers And Employees Each Pay A Tax Equal To 1.45 Percent Of Wages. Mr. Reid Would Increase The Rate To 1.95 Percent For Individuals With Annual Incomes Over $200,000 And Couples Over $250,000.” (“Senate Health Plan Seeks To Add Coverage To 31 Million,” The New York Times, 11/19/09)

“Fees On Certain Manufacturers And Insurers… 2010-2019… 102 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 6)

•    “The Medical Device Tax Has Been Cut In Half To $2 Billion Annually To Appease Minnesota, Indiana And Massachusetts Senators.” (“Reid Releases $849b Bill, Initial Vote Expected Saturday,” Congress Daily, 11/19/09)

•    “A Fee On Insurers Remained At $6 Billion A Year As Well As A Fee On Drugmakers At $2 Billion Annually.” (“Reid Releases $849b Bill, Initial Vote Expected Saturday,” Congress Daily, 11/19/09)

“Additional Hospital Insurance Tax… 2010-2019… 54 [Billion Dollars].” (CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Harry Reid, 11/18/09, P. 6)

“Desperately Seeking Money To Pay For The Legislation, Mr. Reid Came Up With A New Source Of Financing: A 5 Percent Tax On Elective Cosmetic Medical Procedures. The tax would be paid by patients, but collected by doctors and clinics and forwarded to the government. The tax would be calculated as 5 percent of the amount paid for an elective cosmetic procedure, whether by the patient, insurance or other sources.” (“Senate Health Plan Seeks To Add Coverage To 31 Million,” The New York Times, 11/19/09)

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“The legislative text and complete budget scores from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of the health care legislation considered on the Senate floor should be made available on a website the public can access for at least 72 hours prior to the first vote to proceed to the legislation.” (Senators Blanche Lincoln, Evan Bayh, Mary Landrieu, Joseph Lieberman, Claire McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jim Webb, Letter To Sen. Reid, 10/6/09)

October 6, 2009

The Honorable Harry Reid                                       
Senate Majority Leader                                            
S-221 United States Capitol                                     
Washington, DC 20510                                            

Dear Leader Reid:

            As you know, Americans across our country have been actively engaged in the debate on health care reform.  Whether or not our constituents agree with the direction of the debate, many are frustrated and lacking accurate information on the emerging proposals in Congress.  Without a doubt, reforming health care in America is one of the most monumental and far-reaching undertakings considered by this body in decades. We believe the American public's participation in this process is critical to our overall success of creating a bill that lowers health care costs and offers access to quality and affordable health care for all Americans.

            Every step of the process needs to be transparent, and information regarding the bill needs to be readily available to our constituents before the Senate starts to vote on legislation that will affect the lives of every American.  The legislative text and complete budget scores from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of the health care legislation considered on the Senate floor should be made available on a website the public can access for at least 72 hours prior to the first vote to proceed to the legislation.  Likewise, the legislative text and complete CBO scores of the health care legislation as amended should be made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage of the bill in the Senate.  Further, the legislative text of all amendments filed and offered for debate on the Senate floor should be posted on a public website prior to beginning debate on the amendment on the Senate floor.  Lastly, upon a final agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate, a formal conference report detailing the agreement and complete CBO scores of the agreement should be made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage of the conference report in the Senate.

            By publically posting the legislation and its CBO scores 72 hours before it is brought to a vote in the Senate and by publishing the text of amendments before they are debated, our constituents will have the opportunity to evaluate these policies and communicate their concerns or their message of support to their Members of Congress.   As their democratically-elected representatives in Washington, D.C., it is our duty to listen to their concerns and to provide them with the chance to respond to proposals that will impact their lives.  At a time when trust in Congress and the U.S. government is unprecedentedly low, we can begin to rebuild the American people's faith in their federal government through transparency and by actively inviting Americans to participate in the legislative process.

            We respectfully request that you agree to these principles before moving forward with floor debate of this legislation.  We appreciate your serious consideration and look forward to working with you on health care reform legislation in the weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

Senator Blanche L. Lincoln
Senator Evan Bayh
Senator Mary L. Landrieu
Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
Senator Claire McCaskill
Senator Ben Nelson
Senator Mark L. Pryor
Senator Jim Webb

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell appeared on ‘Fox News Sunday’ this past weekend. The following are excerpts from the program:

On the need to get health care reform right:

Necessary time for debate—“Well, what we do know for sure, Chris, is this is a bill that cuts Medicare, raises taxes and raises insurance premiums. We know it's been in Harry Reid's office for six weeks and the other 99 senators have not seen it. I think we ought to at least have as much time for the other 99 senators and all of the American people to take a look at this bill as Majority Leader Reid has had. The only way to guarantee that for sure would be to delay the process to allow everyone to fully understand what's in the bill.

“And then if there are 60 senators who want to go to this bill, even though the administration's own actuary, somebody who works in the administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, has said that it will drive the cost of health care up and that it will hurt seniors -- if they still want to go to it, then we'll have the debate.

“And when we get on the -- on the bill, if we do, there will be a lot of amendments over a lot of weeks. I mean, the Senate is not the House. You saw in the House three votes and it was over in one day.

“Look, we spent four weeks on a farm bill in the last Congress, eight weeks on an energy bill earlier this decade.  This will be on the floor for quite a long time.  I think it ought to be on the floor at least as long as it's been in Harry Reid's office.”

Listening to the American people—“The American people are overwhelmingly telling us, ‘Don't pass it.’  It will be up to whether the Democratic majority wants to listen to the American people or whether they want to pass this anyway just to basically ignore the opinion of the American population and go ahead with this bill. I think it is yet to be determined, you know, whether there are 60 senators who are going to ignore public opinion and pass a bill that cuts Medicare, raises taxes and raises insurance premiums.”

Abortion funding in the health care bill—“ Well, what we do know is that the American people, regardless of how they feel about the abortion issue, don't think that taxpayer money ought to be used to pay for abortions.  And so I think that issue will be hashed out on the Senate floor. I think it would be very difficult to pass a bill that, in effect, either directly or indirectly provided tax money to pay for abortions.”

“Well, we don't know what will be in the bill that Senator Reid produces.  And I'm not going to predict the outcome of this. What I am going to say once again is that we know where the American public is.  They're overwhelmingly opposed to using tax funds, either directly or indirectly, to pay for abortions.  Whether the Senate will reflect American public opinion on that or not, we'll have to see.”

A controversial bill—“ Well, all of those are hot-button issues -- abortion, immigration, whether or not the government's going to get in the insurance business.  All of those are very contentious issues. But of course, the core of the bill is very contentious as well -- massive cuts in Medicare, huge tax increases on individuals and on businesses, and raising insurance premiums for 85 percent of the Americans who already have health insurance.  All of these are at their core very controversial.”

What should be done instead—“Let me tell you what we ought to do, Chris.  We ought not to pass a 2,000-page bill.  We ought to go step by step, regain the confidence of the American public, deal with the cost issue, and target the problems in our health care system, not scrap it, not have the government take over one-sixth of our economy.”

On Afghanistan:
“You know, what we're a little frustrated with -- you know, during the campaign last year, the president said the Iraq war was the bad war and the Afghan war was the good war. Then he announced in March that he was going to send General Stanley McChrystal, one of the architects of the surge that was so successful in Iraq, to take over in Afghanistan. We are a little bit perplexed about the length of time it's taking to make this decision.”

“Part of being president is you don't have easy choices.  You have a lot of choices you have to make among difficult options.  None of them are perfect.  We do know this for sure, Chris.  We know that by staying on offense in the war on terror we have largely protected America since 9/11.

“We know there are a lot of terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  We know what happened when the Taliban was in charge of Afghanistan before.  I think the president, as difficult as this decision is, needs to make it, needs to follow the advice of his generals.  And if he does, he'll have overwhelming support among Republican Senators.”

On whether Congress can prevent the transfer of war criminals that plotted the 9/11 attacks into the U.S.:

“Unfortunately, we had that very vote on the Lieberman, Lindsey Graham amendment just a week ago and 54 Democrats voted—opposed, frankly—having the trials down in Guantanamo, So it looks to me like the administration is going to do this. They seem to be sort of hell-bent to do it. I agree with the family of Daniel Pearl. KSM murdered their son, and they said why in the world would we want to give him the show trial that he desires?

On bringing terrorist detainees from Guantanamo to an Illinois facility:

“The senate went on record on that issue a couple years ago 94-3 against bringing these people to the United States. I can't imagine the people of Illinois would like to have these prisoners incarcerated in their state. There may be some local officials who are going to support it, but I expect it will be a huge issue up in Illinois.”

When asked if Congress could block funding—“We'll be looking for ways to do it, and hopefully the Senate and House will speak on this issue.”
 

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Now, Do These Folks Deserve Miranda Rights? Do They Deserve To Be Treated Like A Shoplifter Down The Block? Of Course Not.” (CBS’ “60 Minutes,” 3/22/09)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “If People Are -- If Terrorists Were Released In The United States, Part Of What We Don't Want Is Them [To] Be Put In Prisons In The United States. We Don't Want Them Around The United States.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 5/19/09)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “I Wouldn't Want Them, And I Wouldn't Take Them … I Don't See A Solution.” (“Lawmakers Balk At Holding Guantanamo Detainees In U.S.,” The Washington Post, 5/8/09)

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “It's A Security Risk That I Don't Think We Want To Have. It's just not the right thing to do. Now clearly, we have to help those folks in Hardin need jobs and find some other solution to this, but I don't think the Guantanamo prisoners should come to Montana. That's not a good thing to do.” (CNN, 4/24/09)

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO): “Guantanamo Is A Huge Political Problem … All Of Us Will Take Some Political Heat For It.” (“Democrats Face Hard Time Over Guantanamo,” Los Angeles Times, 5/7/09)

SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D-MD): “What Would This $30 Million Do, And Is This Laying The Groundwork For The Dumping Of Terrorists Into State And Federal Prisons?” (Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee On Commerce, Justice, And Science, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 5/7/09)

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East Africa Embassy Bombing Trials Made Bin Laden Aware Of Cell Phone Intercepts Prompting Them To Discontinue Cell Phone Conversations

THE STAR – LEDGER (NJ): “The cost of disclosing information unwisely became clear after the New York trials of Bin Laden associates for the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. Some of the evidence indicated that the National Security Agency, the U.S. foreign eavesdropping organization, had intercepted cell phone conversations. Shortly thereafter, Bin Laden's organization stopped using cell phones to discuss sensitive operational details, U.S. intelligence sources said.” (“U.S. Wants To Build Case Against Bin Laden Without Aiding Him,” The Star-Ledger, 9/26/01)

Ramzi Yousef Trial Tipped Off Terrorists To A Communications Link That Provided “Enormously Valuable Intelligence” But Was “Shut Down” After The Disclosure

MICHAEL MUKASEY, Former U.S. Attorney General: “Again, during the trial of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, an apparently innocuous bit of testimony in a public courtroom about delivery of a cell phone battery was enough to tip off terrorists still at large that one of their communication links had been compromised. That link, which in fact had been monitored by the government and had provided enormously valuable intelligence, was immediately shut down, and further information lost.” (Michael Mukasey, “Jose Padilla Makes Bad Law,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/22/07)

Omar Abdel Rhman (“Blind Sheik”) Trial Provided Intel To Osama Bin Laden

MICHAEL MUKASEY, Former U.S. Attorney General: “In the multidefendant terrorism prosecution of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman … the government was required to disclose, as it is routinely in conspiracy cases, the identity of all known co-conspirators … it was later learned that soon after the government's disclosure the list of unindicted co-conspirators had made its way to Bin Laden in Khartoum, Sudan.” (Michael Mukasey, “Civilian Courts Are No Place To Try Terrorists,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/19/09)

Zacarias Moussaoui Trial Inadvertently Leaked Sensitive Material

CNBC NEWS: “The government went to the judge and said, ‘oops, we gave Moussaoui some documents he shouldn’t have.’ … documents that the government says should have been classified.” (“FBI Reveals New Details About 9/11 Hijackers,” CNBC, 9/26/02)

JUDGE LEONIE BRINKEMA: “Like a circus,” “people [lawyers] are talking about the contents of sealed hearings” [to the media], “if I see any more what I think are inappropriate leaks, I’m going to ask the FBI to start an investigation.” (Unites States Of America V. Zacarias Moussaoui, Trial Transcripts, P.33-34, 4/22/05)

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1.    ADMINISTRATION OVER-REPORTED CALIFORNIA JOBS “SAVED OR CREATED” BY NEARLY 30,000:
“Up To One-Fourth Of The 110,000 Jobs Reported As Saved By Federal Stimulus Money In California Probably Never Were In Danger, A Bee Review Has Found. California State University officials reported late last week that they saved more jobs with stimulus money than the number of jobs saved in Texas – and in 44 other states. In a required state report to the federal government, the university system said the $268.5 million it received in stimulus funding through October allowed it to retain 26,156 employees. That total represents more than half of CSU's statewide work force. However, university officials confirmed Thursday that half their workers were not going to be laid off without the stimulus dollars. ‘This is not really a real number of people,’ CSU spokeswoman Clara Potes-Fellow said.” (“Many California Jobs ‘Saved’ By Stimulus Funds Weren’t In Jeopardy,” The Sacramento Bee, 11/6/09)

2.    ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THAT PURCHASING A LAWN MOWER SAVED 50 JOBS:
“In June, The Federal Government Spent $1,047 In Stimulus Money To Buy A Rider Mower From The Toro Company To Cut The Grass At The Fayetteville National Cemetery In Arkansas. Now, A Report On The Government’s Stimulus Web Site Improbably Claims That That Single Lawn Mower Sale Helped Save Or Create 50 Jobs. … A spokesman for Toro said the 50-job figure was not accurate, making it one of a number of reports with apparent errors.” (“Reports Show Conflicting Number Of Jobs Attributed To Stimulus Money,” The New York Times, 11/5/09)

3.    ADMINISTRATION REPORTED 292 JOBS IN COLORADO BUT “ONLY THREE NEW JOBS WERE CREATED”:
“Two Child-Development Centers — One In Colorado Springs And The Other In Saguache County — Reported They Had Created Or Saved More Than 292 Jobs Combined. However, The Money — Totaling About $650,000, Or $2,226 A Job — Was Used To Give Employees Cost- Of-Living Raises. Only Three New Jobs Were Created.” (“Stimulus-Jobs Count In Colorado Overinflated,” The Denver Post, 11/10/09)

4.    9 JOBS WERE COUNTED FROM A SHOE STORE THAT RECEIVED $889.60 TO MAKE 9 PAIRS OF SHOES:
“How Did Kentucky Shoe Store Owner Buddy Moore Save Nine Jobs With Just $889.60 In Federal Stimulus Money? He Didn’t, And That’s Turning Into A Big Headache For Him. Moore’s store in Campbellsville, Ky., filed one of 156,614 reports from recipients of stimulus dollars designed to show how money from the $787 billion program is being spent, and how many jobs the funds have created or saved.  Moore’s slice of the stimulus came in an $889.60 order from the Army Corps of Engineers for nine pairs of work boots for a stimulus project. Moore says he’s been supplying the Corps with boots for at least two decades. This year, because he provided safety shoes for work funded by the stimulus package, he said he got a call from the Corps telling him he had to fill out a report for Recovery.gov detailing how he’d used the $889.60, and how many jobs it had helped him to create or save. He later got another call, asking him if he’d finished the report. ‘The paperwork was unreal,’ said Moore, who added that he tried to figure out how to file the forms online, then gave up and asked his daughter to help.” (“In The Battle For Stimulus Jobs, Shoe Store Owner Tells War Story,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/2/09)

5.    10 JOBS REPORTED CREATED IN MASSACHUSETTS ON A PROJECT THAT HAS NOT STARTED:
“…The City Of Waltham Said A $630,500 Solar Panel Installation On The Roof Of City Hall Created 10 Jobs - Even Though The Work Had Yet To Begin.” (“Stimulus Job Boost In State Exaggerated, Review Finds,” The Boston Globe, 11/11/09)

6.    ADMINISTRATION REPORTED “160 FULL-TIME WORK-STUDY JOBS” BUT “ALMOST NOTHING” WAS ACTUALLY CREATED:
“One Of The Largest Reported Jobs Figures Comes From Bridgewater State College, Which Is Listed As Using $77,181 In Stimulus Money For 160 Full-Time Work-Study Jobs For Students. But Bridgewater State Spokesman Bryan Baldwin Said The College Made A Mistake And The Actual Number Of New Jobs Was ‘Almost Nothing.’” (“Stimulus Job Boost In State Exaggerated, Review Finds,” The Boston Globe, 11/11/09)

7.    108 JOBS REPORTED SAVED AT CONNECTICUT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH 22 OFFICERS:
“The Police Department In Plymouth, Conn., Claimed In Its Report That A $15,355 Grant Used To Buy New Computers Had Created Or Saved 108 Jobs. The Department Had 22 Law Enforcement Officers Last Year, According To The FBI.” (“Analysis Finds Stimulus Confusion,” USA Today, 11/2/09)

8.    BOSTON LAND MANAGEMENT COMPANY WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CREATED 26 JOBS BUT THEY SAY “IT WAS JUST SHUFFLING AROUND OF THE FUNDS”:
“‘There Were No Jobs Created. It Was Just Shuffling Around Of The Funds,’ Said Susan Kelly, Director Of Property Management For Boston Land Co., Which Reported Retaining 26 Jobs With $2.7 Million In Rental Subsidies for its affordable housing developments in Waltham. ‘It’s hard to figure out if you did the paperwork right. We never asked for this.’” (“Stimulus Job Boost In State Exaggerated, Review Finds,” The Boston Globe, 11/11/09)

9.    A CITY REPORTED CREATING 117 JOBS BUT SAYS THE NUMBER IS AN “ESTIMATE [THAT] IS BASED ON ANYONE WHO WILL WORK ON THE PROJECT, EVEN IF IT WAS FOR ONLY ONE DAY”:
 “The City Of Westminster Reported That Its $150,438 Contract For Road Work On Lowell Boulevard Would Create 117 Jobs. That Would Equate To $1,286 Per Job. The City Said The Estimate Is Based On Anyone Who Will Work On The Project, Even If It Was For Only One Day. No federal officials told the city to convert to the number of full-time-equivalent slots, an official said.” (“Stimulus-Jobs Count In Colorado Overinflated,” The Denver Post, 11/10/09)

10.    IN WORCESTER, MASS., 46 JOBS WERE REPORTED DESPITE ONLY 23 EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE ENTIRE COMPLEX:
“…Plumley Village East In Worcester Listed 23 Jobs For Each Of Its Two Contracts For A Total Of 46 Jobs, Even Though It Has Only 23 Employees Working Throughout The Complex.” (“Stimulus Job Boost In State Exaggerated, Review Finds,” The Boston Globe, 11/11/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “It Will Slow The Growth Of Health Care Costs For Our Families, Our Businesses, And Our Government.” “The plan I’m announcing tonight would meet three basic goals. It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance for those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government.” (President Obama, Remarks To Joint Session Of Congress, 9/9/09)

BROOKINGS INSTITUTION’S WILLIAM GALSTON: Dem Health Bills Do A “Very Poor Job” Of “Controlling Costs.” “I say with regret but consistent with a very important article on the front page of today’s New York Times that of the two objectives that people had going into health care reform, namely expanding access and controlling costs we’re on track to do a pretty good job on number one and a very poor job on number two. So if we don’t do number two in this bill we’re going to have to come back and do it in some subsequent bill because it is not sustainable to expand access and to do nothing about costs. It’s just as simple as that. I am interested in sustainable moral commitments.” (Senate Budget Committee, Hearing, 11/10/09)

FORMER COMPTROLLER GENERAL DAVID WALKER: “No Bill” Passed In The House Or Senate Will “Bend [The] Total Health Care Cost Curve As A Percentage Of The Economy.” “On health care, four tests for fiscal responsible health care. Must pay for itself over ten years. Must not add to deficits beyond ten years because the country is going to last for more than ten years and the future is more than ten years. Number three, should result in a significant reduction in the tens of trillions in unfunded promises we already have for health care. And number four, should bend total health care cost curve as a percentage of the economy down not up. No bill meets that. Some don’t come close to meeting it. Otherwise, you are adding a wing to a house that is headed for condemnation and bankruptcy or foreclosure in today’s terms.” (Senate Budget Committee, Hearing, 11/10/09)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “Experts — Including Some Who Have Consulted Closely With The White House, Like Dr. Denis A. Cortese, Chief Executive Of The Mayo Clinic — Say The Measures Take Only Baby Steps Toward Revamping The Current Fee-For-Service System, Which Drives Up Costs By Paying Health Providers For Each Visit Or Procedure Performed.” (“Democrats Raise Alarms Over Costs Of Health Bills,” The New York Times, 11/10/09)

CMS ACTUARY: “Total National Health Expenditures Under This Bill Would Increase…” (”Estimated Financial Effects Of The ‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009’ (H.R. 3200), As Reported By The Ways And Means Committee,” Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.3, 10/21/09)

•    AP: “The Nation's Medical Costs Will Keep Spiraling Upward Even Faster Than They Are Now Under Democratic Legislation Pending In The House, A Report From Government Economic Experts Concluded…” (“US Health Care Tab Would Grow Under Overhaul,” AP, 10/21/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

REP. MIKE ROSS (D-AR): “With More Than $400 Billion In Cuts To Medicare, It Could Force Many Of Our Rural Hospitals To Close, Providing Less Access And Care For Our Seniors” (Rep. Ross, Press Release, 11/8/09)

REP. LARRY KISSELL (D-NC): “From The Day I Announced My Candidacy For This Office, I Promised To Protect Medicare … I Gave My Word I Wouldn’t Cut It And I Intend To Keep That Promise.” (“North Carolina's Blue Dogs And Health Bill: It's Complicated,” McClatchy, 11/6/09)

REP. MICHAEL MCMAHON (D-NY): “Medicare Advantage, Which Serves Approximately 40% Of My Seniors On Medicare, Would Be Cut Dramatically.” (Rep. McMahon, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. IKE SKELTON (D-MO): “The Proposed Reductions To Medicare Reimbursement Could Further Squeeze The Budgets Of Rural Health Care Providers.” (Rep. Skelton, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. BETSY MARKEY (D-CO): “In The End, I Just Didn’t Think That It Did Enough To Control Health-Care Costs.” (Betsy Markey Votes Against Health-Care Bill,” The Coloradoan, 11/08/09)

REP. ALLEN BOYD (D-FL): “It Simply Falls Short When It Comes To Lowering Healthcare Costs For North Florida Families And Businesses.” (Rep. Boyd, Press Release, 11/09)

REP. BRIAN BAIRD (D-WA): “The Most Important Of These [Reasons For Concern] Is The Simple Fact That We Do Not Yet Have Reliable Estimates Of How This Legislation Will Impact The Premiums Paid By People Who Already Have Insurance.” (Rep. Brian Baird, Press Release)

REP. JOHN ADLER (D-NJ): “I Am Not Satisfied That It Curbs Costs Or Keeps Health Care Affordable In The Long Term. H.R. 3962 Does Not Do Enough To Make Health Care Affordable For Middle Class Families And Small Businesses. Congress Should Not Pass A Bill That Costs More Than $1 Trillion Dollars.” (Rep. Adler, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. JASON ALTMIRE (D-PA): “[This Bill] Failed To Effectively Rein In Rising Health Care Costs; It Was Punitive Toward Small Businesses; And It Paid For Reform By Raising Taxes.” (Rep. Altmire, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. SUZANNE KOSMAS (D-FL): “I Believe That It Does Not Do Enough To Slow The Growth Of Health Care Costs And Spending On Care.” (Rep. Kosmas, Press Release, 11/6/09)

REP. JOHN BOCCIERI (D-OH): “While I Fully Support Quality, Affordable Health Care Coverage For Everyone, I Am Disappointed The House Bill Sadly Does Not Go Far Enough To Reduce The Costs Of Getting There.” (Rep. Boccieri, Press Release, 11/09)

REP. GLENN NYE (D-VA): “It’s More Important To Pass The Right Bill, One That Will Reduce Costs And Help Families And Small Businesses, Than To Pass This Bill Right Now.” (Rep. Nye, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. MIKE MCINTYRE (D-NC): “It Raises Too Much In New Taxes And Imposes New Requirements That Will Harm The Ability Of Too Many Small Businesses To Compete And Create Jobs.” (Rep. McIntyre, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. MICHAEL MCMAHON (D-NY): “While No Time Is A Good Time, This Is Certainly Not A Good Time To Be Raising Taxes On Anyone.” (“Health Reform Revenue Raisers Will Provide Much Fodder,” Congress Daily, 11/5/09)

REP. TIM HOLDEN (D-PA): “It’s A Trillion-Dollar Program At A Time When We’re At The Highest Deficit And Debt That Our Nation Has Ever Accumulated, And The Bill They’re Proposing, Is, In My Opinion, Bad Public Policy.” (“Holden: House Health Care Bill Is ‘Bad Public Policy,’” [Pottsville, PA] Republican & Herald, 11/7/09)

REP. FRANK KRATOVIL, JR. (D-MD): “Our Nation Is Facing An $11.9 Trillion National Debt, And We Simply Cannot Afford A Bill That Does Not Lower Healthcare Spending.” (Rep. Kratovil, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. SCOTT MURPHY (D-NY): “During These Difficult Economic Times, An Unacceptably High Price Tag Will Stress Our Already Overstretched Federal Budget And Place Even More Burdens On Our Hard Working Individuals, Families And Small Businesses.” (Rep. Murphy, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. COLLIN PETERSON (D-MN): “We Are Adding More Entitlements When We Can’t Pay For The Ones We Have Now.”  ("Collin Peterson A Firm No On Health Care Bill," [Glencoe, MN] The McLeod County Chronicle, 10/30/09)

REP. CHARLIE MELANCON (D-LA): “In These Tough Economic Times, We’ve Got To Be Smarter About Getting Government Spending And The Deficit Under Control, And The House's Health Care Bill Simply Costs Too Much.” (Rep. Melancon, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. HEATH SHULER (D-NC): “This Bill Will Not Reduce The Federal Government's Spending On Health Care Over The Long Term. Any Reform That Does Not Control Long-Term Costs Will Be Shortsighted And Unwise.” (“Shuler Votes Against Health Care Reform,” Asheville Citizen-Times, 11/08/09)

REP. HARRY TEAGUE (D-NM): “American Taxpayers Will End Up Footing A Nearly $900 Billion Tab For A Bill That Doesn’t Do Enough To ‘Bend The Cost Curve’ In A Way That Permanently Reduces Both Costs And The National Debt.” (Rep. Teague, Press Release, 11/09)

REP. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN (D-SD): “It Is Not The Right Answer For South Dakota Because It Could Unintentionally Threaten Existing Access To Health Care In Our State, And It Does Not Include Sufficient Cost-Containment And Deficit Reduction Measures.” (Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Press Release, 11/6/09)

REP. IKE SKELTON (D-MO): “I Also Oppose The Creation Of A New Government Run Public Option And Continue To Have Serious Concerns About Its Potential Unintended Consequences For Missourians Who Have Private Insurance Plans They Like.” (Rep. Skelton, Press Release, 11/7/09)
 
REP. RICK BOUCHER (D-VA): “I Also Intend To Oppose The Bill Because Of My Concern That A Government Operated Health Insurance Plan Could Place At Risk The Survival Of Our Region's Hospitals.” (Rep. Boucher, Press Release, 11/7/09)

REP. ERIC MASSA (D-NY): “It Does Not Address Real Medical Malpractice Insurance Reform.” (“Why Five New York Congressmen Voted Against Health Care Reform,” New York Magazine, 11/09/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA: “If We Don’t Act Swiftly And Boldly, We Could See A Much Deeper Economic Downturn That Could Lead To Double Digit Unemployment And The American Dream Slipping Further And Further Out Of Reach. That’s Why We Need An American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan that not only creates jobs in the short-term but spurs economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term. And this plan must be designed in a new way—we can’t just fall into the old Washington habit of throwing money at the problem.” (Barack Obama, Radio Address, 1/3/09)

•    OBAMA: “[I]f We Don't Act Immediately, Then Millions More Jobs Will Disappear; The National Unemployment Rates Will Approach Double Digits; more people will lose their homes and their health care.  And our nation will sink into a crisis that at some point is going to be that much tougher to reverse.  So we cannot afford to wait.  We can't wait and see and hope for the best.” (President Obama, Town Hall Meeting, Fort Myers, FL, 2/10/09)

•    OBAMA: “If Nothing Is Done … Unemployment Will Approach Double Digits.” “If nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse. That's why I feel such a sense of urgency about the recovery plan before Congress.” (President Obama, Op-Ed, “The Action Americans Need,” The Washington Post, 2/5/09)

JARED BERNSTEIN & CHRISTINA ROMER: The “Unemployment Rate With … The Recovery Plan,” Would Not Exceed Eight Percent “With Recovery Plan.” (Christina Romer & Jared Bernstein, “The Job Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan,” P.4, 1/9/09)

CHRISTINA ROMER: “If We Fail To Act, We Are Likely To Lose Millions More Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Could Reach Double Digits.” (“Obama Says Delay On Stimulus Bill ‘Inexcusable,’” Guardian, 2/6/09)

Q: “Do You Think We’ll See Unemployment Actually Get To 10 Percent?” LARRY SUMMERS: “I Don’t Think So, Bob. … Frankly What’s Important About The President’s Program Here Is That It Is Going To Contain What Would Otherwise Be Just A Vicious Cycle. … We’re Going To Stop That Vicious Cycle.” And we're going on contain this problem Q: “Do you think we'll see unemployment actually get to 10 percent?” LARRY SUMMERS: “I don't think so, Bob. I think while we're going to see substantial job losses, frankly what's important about the president's program here is that it is going to contain what would otherwise be just a vicious cycle. People spend less, therefore, others earn less, therefore, they spend less. We're going to stop that vicious cycle. And we're going on contain this problem. The president is going to do whatever it takes to achieve that objective.” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 1/18/09)

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: “I Still Think It Is Vital That By The End Of The Year That We Try As Hard As We Can, Through Whatever Means That We Have -- And The President Has Tried To Do So -- To Keep The Unemployment Rate From Getting Into The Multiple Double-Digit Range.” GOOLSBEE: “I agree we've gotten some bad news on the labor market front, so that the -- trying to keep the unemployment rate in the 8 percent range -- we're already in the 8 percent range. I still think it is vital that by the end of the year that we try as hard as we can, through whatever means that we have -- and the president has tried to do so -- to keep the unemployment rate from getting into the multiple double-digit range that people were forecasting before that policy. Now, we have just passed...” Q: “So you're talking under 10 percent.” GOOLSBEE: “Ten, 11 percent people were forecasting -- what would happen without any policy intervention.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 3/15/09)

Q: “Will This Stimulus Plan Prevent Unemployment From Reaching 10 Percent, Do You Think?” DAVID AXELROD: “Well, That's Our Hope. …That’s What We’re Trying To Forestall.” Q: “Will this stimulus plan prevent unemployment from reaching 10 percent, do you think?” AXELROD: “Well, that's our hope. That's our hope. There's no doubt that without it that's what--that's where we were looking, double-digit unemployment. And that's what we're trying to forestall. We want to turn this thing around, and we think that this will, will happen. That's why the president had such a sense of urgency of acting now.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 2/15/09)

Q: “With This Stimulus Now Passed, Do You Believe That We Will Not Get To 10 Percent Unemployment?” ROBERT GIBBS: “You Know, The Economic Team Believes That This Bill Will Help Us Stay Away From Those Double-Digit Economic Unemployment Numbers.” Q: “Some have said that unemployment may actually get to 10 percent. With this stimulus now passed, do you believe that we will not get to 10 percent unemployment?” GIBBS: “You know, the economic team believes that this bill will help us stay away from those double-digit economic unemployment numbers. So we're certainly hopeful of that. Again you've seen, in just the last few months, the unemployment rate jump a lot each month. So we're certainly going to watch that as time goes on, to see and chart the progress of this economic recovery plan.” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 2/15/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

1.    “More Than 9,300” Saved Jobs “Actually Weren’t Saved At All,” Instead “Existing Employees … Received Pay Raises And Benefits.” “About two-thirds of the 14,506 jobs claimed to be saved under one federal office, the Administration for Children and Families at Health and Human Services, actually weren't saved at all, according to a review of the latest data by The Associated Press. Instead, that figure includes more than 9,300 existing employees in hundreds of local agencies who received pay raises and benefits and whose jobs weren't saved.” (“STIMULUS WATCH: Salary Raise Counted As Saved Job,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

2.    “Texas Used Half Of Its $3.25 Billion In Education Funds To Pay For A Teacher Pay Raise.” “While school districts elsewhere reported that stimulus funds saved thousands of teachers from layoffs, Texas used half of its $3.25 billion in education funds to pay for a teacher pay raise.” (“Stimulus Job Lag In Texas $10.7B In Aid Has Created 19,572 Positions So Far, Lowest Total For Big States,” The Dallas Morning News, 10/31/09)

3.    “935 Saved Jobs Reported By The Southwest Georgia Community Action In Moultrie, Ga. … Claimed All Its Existing Employees' Jobs Were Saved Because They Received A Pay Raise With The Stimulus Cash.” (“STIMULUS WATCH: Salary Raise Counted As Saved Job,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

4.    “Some Recipients Of Stimulus Money Used The Cash To Give Existing Employees … Including One Florida Day Care That Claimed 129 Jobs Were Saved.” “For example, some recipients of stimulus money used the cash to give existing employees pay raises but reported saving dozens of jobs with the money, including one Florida day care that claimed 129 jobs were saved.” (“Revised Stimulus Job Tally Due Today,” The Associated Press, 10/30/09)

5.    “United Migrant Opportunity Services Based In Milwaukee Reported Saving 113 Jobs … The Award Provided Their Employees A 1.8% Cost-Of-Living Wage Increase.” “United Migrant Opportunity Services based in Milwaukee reported saving 113 jobs through spending $18,000 of a Head Start preschool grant, or about $160 per job. The award provided their employees a 1.8% cost-of-living wage increase.” (“Don’t Count On Stimulus Job Tally,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/5/09)

6.    “The Bergen County Community Action Program In Hackensack, N.J., Noted The Nearly $213,000 It Received Went To Cover Raises For Existing Staff Only, But It Also Reported Saving 85 Jobs.” (“STIMULUS WATCH: Salary Raise Counted As Saved Job,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

7.    “With Less Than $35,000, The Obama Administration Managed To Create Or Save 50 Jobs In Danville, They Boast. … ‘It Hasn't Created Jobs, But It's Helped Improve 50 Jobs,’ Roy Garner Explained. The Money Has Gone For Staff Training, Pay Raises And Playground Repair.” (“‘Barackie Madoff’ Rescue Nothing But A $16B Rip-Off,” The New York Post, 10/16/09)

8.    “More Than 250 Other Community Agencies In The U.S. Similarly Reported Saving Jobs When Using The Money To Give Pay Raises, To Pay For Training And Continuing Education, To Extend Employee Work Hours Or To Buy Equipment, According To Their Spending Reports.” (“STIMULUS WATCH: Salary Raise Counted As Saved Job,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

MICHAEL MUKASEY, Former U.S. Attorney General: “The Justice Department Claims That Our Courts Are Well Suited To The Task. Based On My Experience Trying Such Cases, And What I Saw As Attorney General, They Aren’t.” (Michael Mukasey, “Civilian Courts Are No Place To Try Terrorists,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/19/09)

MICHAEL MUKASEY, Former U.S. Attorney General: “In the multidefendant terrorism prosecution of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman … the government was required to disclose, as it is routinely in conspiracy cases, the identity of all known co-conspirators … it was later learned that soon after the government's disclosure the list of unindicted co-conspirators had made its way to Bin Laden in Khartoum, Sudan.” (Michael Mukasey, “Civilian Courts Are No Place To Try Terrorists,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/19/09)

ASSOCIATED PRESS: “A Veteran Civil Rights Lawyer Was Convicted Thursday Of Crossing The Line By Smuggling Messages Of Violence From One Of Her Jailed Clients - A Radical Egyptian Sheik - To His Terrorist Disciples On The Outside. The jury deliberated 13 days over the past month before convicting Lynne Stewart, 65, a firebrand, left-wing activist known for representing radicals and revolutionaries in her 30 years on the New York legal scene. The trial, which began last June, focused attention on the line between zealous advocacy and criminal behavior by a lawyer.” (“N.Y. Lawyer Convicted Of Aiding Terrorists,” AP, 2/10/05)

ZACARIAS MOUSSAOUI: “My Conspiracy Has For Aim To Free Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, The Blind Sheikh, Who Is Held In Florence, Colorado.” “…this conspiracy was a different conspiracy that 9/11. My conspiracy has for aim to free Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind sheikh, who is held in Florence, Colorado, okay, and we wanted to use the 747 because it, it is a long-distance plane who could reach Afghanistan without any stopover to give a chance to special forces to storm the plane. So I am guilty of a broad conspiracy to use weapon of mass destruction to hit the White House if the American government refuse to negotiate, okay.” (United States Of America V. Zacarias Moussaoui, Trial Transcripts, P.28-9, 4/22/05)

MICHAEL MUKASEY, Former U.S. Attorney General: “Again, during the trial of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, an apparently innocuous bit of testimony in a public courtroom about delivery of a cell phone battery was enough to tip off terrorists still at large that one of their communication links had been compromised. That link, which in fact had been monitored by the government and had provided enormously valuable intelligence, was immediately shut down, and further information lost.” (Michael Mukasey, “Jose Padilla Makes Bad Law,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/22/07)

THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT: “…it created an impression that the law enforcement system was well-equipped to cope with terrorism. Neither President Clinton, his principal advisers, the Congress, nor the news media felt prompted, until later, to press the question of whether the procedures that put the Blind Sheikh and Ramzi Yousef behind bars would really protect Americans against the new virus of which these individuals were just the first symptoms…” (“The 9/11 Commission Report,” Pg. 72)

CNBC NEWS: “The government went to the judge and said, ‘oops, we gave Moussaoui some documents he shouldn’t have.’ … documents that the government says should have been classified.” (“FBI Reveals New Details About 9/11 Hijackers,” CNBC, 9/26/02)

JUDGE LEONIE BRINKEMA: “Like a circus,” “people [lawyers] are talking about the contents of sealed hearings” to the media, “if I see any more what I think are inappropriate leaks, I’m going to ask the FBI to start an investigation.” (United States Of America V. Zacarias Moussaoui, Trial Transcripts, P.33-34, 4/22/05)

“Moussaoui ‘mocks and taunts family members whose loves ones died…’” (Moussaoui V. The United States: How Due Process Thwarted A Courtroom Jihad,” ABA Journal, 9/07)

“I just wish it will happen on the 12th, the 13th, the 14th, the 15th, the 16th, the 17th, and I can go on and on… I think it was disgusting for a military person to pretend that they should not be killed as an act of war. She is military.” (Moussaoui V. The United States: How Due Process Thwarted A Courtroom Jihad,” ABA Journal, 9/07)

“Q: And you were happy two men were killed that day? MOUSSAOUI: Make my day… no regret, no remorse. Q: Like it to all happen again, right? MOUSSAOUI: Every day, until we get here to you.” (Moussaoui V. The United States: How Due Process Thwarted A Courtroom Jihad,” ABA Journal, 9/07)

MOUSSAOUI: “The woman [widow] say that her husband were a naval officer. Of course, he was working for the development of peace and love in the world in his warship. You have an amount of hypocrisy which is beyond any belief.” (Unites States Of America V. Zacarias Moussaoui, Trial Transcripts, P.11, 5/4/06)

“He Files Pleadings As ‘Zacarias Moussaoui, Slave Of Allah’ Against ‘Bush And Ashcroft, Slaves Of Satan.’” (“Moussaoui Tactics Put Terror Trial In Doubt,” The Kansas City Star, 6/9/03)

“At His Formal Sentencing Thursday, Moussaoui Leaned Forward In His Chair And Hissed: ‘God Curse America, And God Save Osama Bin Laden! You Will Never Get Him!’” (“Al-Qaeda Conspirator Is Sent ...,” The Washington Post, 5/7/06)

“Exiting Court After The Jury Left Tuesday, Moussaoui Exclaimed, ‘God Bless Mohamed Atta.’” (“Roommate: Moussaoui Saw Jihad As Way To Paradise,” CNN, 3/21/06)

MOUSSAOUI: “America Lost! I Won!” “U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema replied with a smile, noting that Moussaoui had yelled ‘America lost! I won!’ after the jury rejected the death penalty.” (“Al-Qaeda Conspirator Is Sent ...,” The Washington Post, 5/7/06)

THE STAR – LEDGER (NJ): “The cost of disclosing information unwisely became clear after the New York trials of Bin Laden associates for the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. Some of the evidence indicated that the National Security Agency, the U.S. foreign eavesdropping organization, had intercepted cell phone conversations. Shortly thereafter, Bin Laden's organization stopped using cell phones to discuss sensitive operational details, U.S. intelligence sources said.” (“U.S. Wants To Build Case Against Bin Laden Without Aiding Him,” The Star-Ledger, 9/26/01)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “More details about the use of satellite phones by Mr. Bin Laden and his lieutenants were revealed by federal prosecutors in the 2001 trial in federal district court in Manhattan of four men charged with conspiring to bomb two American embassies in east Africa in 1998.” (“Bush Account Of A Leak’s Impact has Support,” The New York Times, 12/20/05)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

1.    ONE STIMULUS PROJECT REPORTED 4.7 MILLION JOBS CREATED: “One Contractor Reported Creating 4.7 Million Jobs, Which Is An ‘Obvious Error.’” (“Questions Raised About Stimulus Reports’ Accuracy,” Courier-Journal [Louisville, KY], 10/26/09)

2.    ADMINISTRATION REPORTED CREATING OR SAVING 50 JOBS IN VIRGINIA BUT LOCAL MANAGER SAID NO JOBS WERE ACTUALLY ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK: “The Obama Administration Managed To Create Or Save 50 Jobs In Danville … But Asked If Any Of The Jobs Were On The Chopping Block Before The Federal Government Arrived On The Scene With All Our Money, Garner Replied Simply, ‘No.’” (“‘Barackie Madoff’ Rescue Nothing But A $16B Rip-Off,” The New York Post, 10/16/09)

3.    ADMINISTRATION REPORTED 4,695 JOBS CREATED IN COLORADO BUT STATE SAID ONLY 830: “Earlier This Month, The Federal Government Released Information On Jobs Resulting From Federal Contracts, Most Of Which Went To Private Businesses. It Showed That The Contracts Led To 4,695 Jobs Created Or Saved. After Further Analysis, The State Has Now Downgraded That To About 830 Full-Time Jobs Created Or Saved.” (“Stimulus Money A ‘Lifeline’ For Colorado,” The Denver Post, 10/28/09)

4.    COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTED CREATING 280 JOBS BUT NONE WERE ACTUALLY CREATED: “A Georgia Community College Reported Creating 280 Jobs With Recovery Money, But None Was Created From Stimulus Spending.” (“Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” AP, 10/29/09)

5.    A STIMULUS PROJECT REPORTED 4,231 JOBS THAT WERE ACTUALLY ONLY 1,000: “A Company Working With The Federal Communications Commission Reported That Stimulus Money Paid For 4,231 Jobs, When About 1,000 Were Produced.” (“Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” AP, 10/29/09)

6.    REPORTED 6 JOBS WHEN ACTUALLY FOUR TRUCK DRIVERS WERE EMPLOYED FOR ONE MONTH: Stimulus Money “Kept The Two Of Them And Two Truck Drivers From Ozark Employed For The Month Of March. But On The Federal Reporting Forms, Willman Excavating & Construction Reported The Project Created Or Saved Six Jobs. Willman Said He Was Unsure Why His Son Wrote Down Six Jobs, But Noted The Federal Paperwork Was Confusing And Onerous.” (“Job-Creation Figures In Doubt,” News-Leader [MO], 10/25/09)

7.    125 JOBS IN CALIFORNIA WERE FUNDED FROM 2 POOLS OF STIMULUS MONEY AND COUNTED AS 250 JOBS: “The San Joaquin, Calif., Regional Rail Commission Reported Creating Or Saving 125 Jobs As Part Of A Stimulus Project To Lay Railroad Track. Because The Project Drew From Two Pools Of Money, The Commission Reported The Jobs Figure Twice, Bringing The Total To 250 On The Government Report.” (“Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” AP, 10/29/09)

8.    12 EMPLOYEES WORKING ON 3 CONTRACTS IN ARIZONA WERE COUNTED AS 30 JOBS: “The Government's Report Shows 10 Jobs Affected By Each Contract, Suggesting 30 Workers Were Helped. ‘There's Not 30 People,’ Armstrong Said. ‘There’s Actually 12.’” (“Stimulus In Arizona Off To A Slow Start,” The Arizona Republic, 10/27/09)

9.    ONE COMPANY HIRED 26 PEOPLE FOR 2 PROJECTS AND IT WAS REPORTED AS 52 JOBS: “Koring Group … Reported Hiring 26 People For Each Contract, Or A Total Of 52 Jobs, But Cited The Same Workers For Both Contracts.” (“Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” AP, 10/29/09)

10.    ADMINISTRATION COUNTS 400 TRANSPOTRATION JOBS IN GEORGIA BUT STATE CONFIRMS JUST 244: “400 Transportation Jobs Have Been Created, According To A Total Of The Estimates Reported By Contractors For The Department Of Transportation. [Georgia Director Of Stimulus Accountability Sid] Johnson's Figures Show Just 244.” (“Stimulus Funds Have Preserved More Jobs Than They Created So Far,” Savannah Morning News, 10/26/09)

A TEXAS COMPANY REPORTED CREATING “.08 JOB”: “FedAlliance … Reported Being Paid $5,987 And That The Project Helped Save Eight One-Hundredth Of A Job -- 0.08 Job.” (“Job-Creation Figures In Doubt,” News-Leader [MO], 10/25/09)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

1.    $300,000 FOR MAPPING RADIOACTIVE RABBIT FECES:
“A Week Mapping Radioactive Rabbit Feces With Detectors Mounted On A Helicopter Flying 50 Feet Over The Desert Scrub. … $300,000 In Federal Stimulus Money.” “A government contractor at Hanford, in south-central Washington State, just spent a week mapping radioactive rabbit feces with detectors mounted on a helicopter flying 50 feet over the desert scrub. … the helicopter flights, which covered 13.7 square miles and were paid for with $300,000 in federal stimulus money, took place in an area that had never been used by the bomb makers. … Marylia Kelley, the executive director of a California group called Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, said the rabbit cleanup was ‘kind of funny, in a sick way.’” (“Even Rabbit Droppings Count In Nuclear Cleanup,” The New York Times, 10/14/09)

2.    $4,200-$5,500 TAX CREDIT FOR PURCHASING GOLF CARTS:
“President Obama’s Stimulus Plan… Is Now Paying Americans To Buy That Great Necessity Of Modern Life, The Golf Cart.” “Thanks to the federal tax credit to buy high-mileage cars that was part of President Obama's stimulus plan, Uncle Sam is now paying Americans to buy that great necessity of modern life, the golf cart. The federal credit provides from $4,200 to $5,500 for the purchase of an electric vehicle, and when it is combined with similar incentive plans in many states the tax credits can pay for nearly the entire cost of a golf cart.” (“Cash For Clubbers,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/17/09)

3.    $219,000 TO STUDY THE SEX LIVES OF FEMALE COLLEGE FRESHMEN:
 “Five Hundred Syracuse University Freshmen Will Divulge The Details Of Their Sex Lives … $219,000 In Stimulus Funds For The Study.” “Five hundred Syracuse University freshmen will divulge the details of their sex lives as part of a women's health study called ‘The Women's Health Project,’ being conducted by Michael Carey, SU professor of psychology and medicine. Carey has found himself the target of nationwide criticism from conservatives since he received $219,000 in stimulus funds for the study, which looks at the sex patterns of college women.” (“SU Sex Study Raises Concern,” The [Syracuse] Daily Orange, 9/8/09)

4.    $1 MILLION TO RENOVATE “THE SUNSET STRIP”:
“Sunset Boulevard, Also Known As ‘The Sunset Strip’ And One Of The Most Famous Streets In The World, Will Be Getting A $7 Million Facelift After More Than 75 Years Of Use, With A Free Million Dollar Nose Job Coming From Uncle Sam. The City of West Hollywood Council received one million dollars in federal funds from the Federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), (otherwise known as the $700 billion federal stimulus package), for the long-planned Sunset Strip Beautification Project, which is scheduled to break ground soon. The guaranteed funding will allow the City to increase the already nearly $7 million budgeted for this project by an additional $1,105,000, meaning enhancements to a project that already included the resurfacing of the roadway, sidewalk and improved landscaping.” (“Feds Stimulus Sunset Strip Beautification Project,” WeHoNews, 9/28/09)

5.    $2.3 MILLION FOR BUG RESEARCH IN CONNECTICUT:
“$2.3 Million” “Federal Economic Stimulus Cash” For “Rearing Large Numbers Of Arthropods” Such As “Nasty Invasive Insects Like The Asian Longhorned Beetle, The Nun Moth, And The Infamous ‘Predator Of The Hemlock,’ The Woolly Adelgid.” “‘Rearing large numbers of arthropods’ probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about using Connecticut's $3 billion in federal economic stimulus cash. But the U.S. Forest Service is using part of the $2.3 million it's spending here to fix up a quarantine research facility in Ansonia. (The arthropods, by the way, are nasty invasive insects like the Asian longhorned beetle, the nun moth, and the infamous ‘predator of the hemlock,’ the woolly adelgid.)” (“Money For Nothing,” New Haven Advocate, 9/1/09)

6.    $6 MILLION FOR A SNOWMAKING FACILITY IN THE 15th SNOWIEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY:
“The Other Third Of The Stimulus, Government Infrastructure Spending, Has Been The Most Controversial From The Start. Some Proposals Have Been Criticized As Wasteful, Such As A $6 Million Snowmaking Facility In Duluth, Minn.” (“The Challenge In Counting Stimulus Returns,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/27/09)  (Top 101 Cities With The Highest Average Snowfall In A Year (Population 50,000+))

7.    $500,000 TO STUDY “SOCIAL NETWORKS LIKE FACEBOOK”:
“A $498,000, Three-Year Grant” To Study “Social Networks Like Facebook.” “Millions of Internet users have been enjoying the fun -- and free -- services provided by advertiser-supported online social networks like Facebook. But Landon Cox, a Duke University assistant professor of computer science, worries about the possible down side -- privacy problems. … To delve deeper into these issues and begin the search for alternatives, Cox recently won a $498,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation. The funding is part of the federal stimulus package called the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).” (“Seeking Privacy In The Clouds: Research Aims At Isolating Social Network Information From ‘Control Of A Central Entity,’” Science Daily, 10/15/09)

8.    $380,000 TO SPAY AND NEUTER PETS IN WICHITA, KANSAS:
“The City Recently Launched A $55,000 Project To Spay And Neuter Pets Owned By Low-Income Residents. Unwanted Pets Ultimately Cost $240 Apiece To Collect, Board And Euthanize, the city estimates, so the program covering 800 animals should save taxpayers money in the long run. The stimulative effect? That is harder to gauge. With the $380,000 overall Wichita has received from its share of the stimulus, the city estimates that it is directly funding 32 jobs so far. The bigger job producers, such as construction and transit projects, are due to start in the coming months.” (“The Challenge In Counting Stimulus Returns,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/27/09)

9.    $3.4 MILLION FOR A TURTLE TUNNEL IN FLORIDA:
“The Other Third Of The Stimulus, Government Infrastructure Spending, Has Been The Most Controversial From The Start. Some Proposals Have Been Criticized As Wasteful, Such As … A $3.4 Million ‘Ecopassage’ To Help Turtles Cross A Highway In Tallahassee, Fla.” (“The Challenge In Counting Stimulus Returns,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/27/09)

10.    $30 MILLION FOR A SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL COMPLEX FOR THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AND COLORADO ROCKIES:
“A Big Chunk Of The Money That Will Pay For A New Spring-Training Baseball Complex On Tribal Land In The East Valley Will Be Delivered Via A Financing Program That's Part Of The Federal Economic-Stimulus Plan. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community says it may borrow as much as $30 million of the estimated cost of the $100 million complex near Scottsdale that will become the spring home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies.” (“Stimulus To Help Tribe Build Baseball Complex,” The Arizona Republic, 9/17/09)

 

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell appeared on the Fox News program ‘The Live Desk’ Wednesday afternoon regarding the importance of getting it right on health care reform. The following are excerpts from the interview:

On voting for it, before voting against it:

“Look, he’s having a hard time even selling to his own members that they should vote to go to the bill.” 

“It created a big problem for John Kerry back in the 2004 election. If you recall the most famous utterance of that campaign was I voted for it before I voted against it.”

“What Harry is trying to do is to convince his members to vote to get on the bill, even though a number of them have indicated they may vote against it later. Well I don’t think the public is going to buy an argument that you voted for it before you voted against it…he’s having a hard time getting the votes to even get on the bill on the Senate floor, and anybody who votes to get on the bill who later votes against it will have the John Kerry dilemma.”

On ‘the heart of the bill’:

“What he’s trying to do is to build a sense of inevitability that this is going to pass. Whether it has a government-run insurance company or not, we know, whether that’s in or whether that’s out, what the heart of the bill is. Almost a half a trillion dollars in Medicare cuts, 400 billion dollars in new taxes and higher insurance premiums for the 85 percent of Americans who already have insurance. The core of the bill we know. If they put a government insurance company in on top of it, it makes it even more difficult to pass.

On the 1,500 page bill:

“Nobody’s seen it other than the handful of Democrats who were in the conference room with the Majority Leader writing this thing in secret.”

“Not only have the Republicans not seen it, most of the Democrats haven’t seen it. It was written by a handful of folks in his conference room and a representative from the White House. Then it went over to the Congressional Budget Office, as you reported, so we can all find out how much they claim it’s going to cost.”
 

CBO DIRECTOR DOUGLAS ELMENDORF: “Our Judgment Is That That Piece Of The Legislation Would Raise Insurance Premiums.” (Finance Committee, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/22/09)

New Government Regulations: “[P]remiums in the new insurance exchanges would tend to be higher than the average premiums in the current-law individual market...” (CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf, Letter To Sen. Baucus, P. 6, 9/22/09)

New Taxes On Medical Devices, Prescription Drugs And Clinical Labs: “Those projected premium amounts include the effect of the fees that would be imposed under the proposal on manufacturers and importers of brand name drugs and medical devices, on health insurance providers, and on clinical laboratories. Those fees would increase costs for the affected firms, which would be passed on to purchasers and ultimately would raise insurance fees by a corresponding amount.” (Doug Elmendorf, "CBO’s Analysis Of Premiums Under The Chairman’s Mark Of The America’s Healthy Future Act," CBO Blog, 9/23/09)

New Taxes On High Cost Insurance Plans: “The imposition of the excise tax on insurers can be expected to lead health insurance providers and consumers to take measures to minimize their burden from the tax. As insurers pass along the cost to the consumer by increasing price, the cost of employer provided insurance will increase.” (“Memorandum: Revenue Estimate,” Joint Committee on Taxation, 9/29/09)

CMS ACTUARY: “Total National Health Expenditures Under This Bill Would Increase…” (”Estimated Financial Effects Of The ‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009’ (H.R. 3200), As Reported By The Ways And Means Committee,” Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, P.3, 10/21/09)

•    AP: “The nation's medical costs will keep spiraling upward even faster than they are now under Democratic legislation pending in the House, a report from government economic experts concluded…” (“US Health Care Tab Would Grow Under Overhaul,” AP, 10/21/09)

CBO ON SENATE FINANCE PROPOSAL: Costs Will Grow. “The gross cost of the coverage expansions, consisting of exchange subsidies, the net costs of expanded eligibility for Medicaid, and tax credits for employers: Those provisions have an estimated cost of $180 billion in 2019, and that cost is growing at about 8 percent per year toward the end of the 10-year budget window.” (CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf, Letter to Sen. Baucus, P. 10, 10/7/09)

OLIVER WYMAN STUDY: “Average premiums for small employers will increase: Under reform, small employers will experience premium increases as a result of rating rule changes and minimum benefit requirements.” (Oliver Wyman, “Insurance Reforms Must Include A Strong Individual Mandate And Other Key Provisions To Ensure Affordability,” P.3, 10/14/09)

PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS STUDY: “There are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could increase private health insurance premiums above the levels projected under current law.” (PricewaterhouseCoopers, “Potential Impact Of Health Reform On The Cost Of Private Health Insurance Coverage,” P.3, 10/11/09)

HAY GROUP STUDY: “Our model results show significantly higher premiums and lower coverage levels than for the most recent version of the Senate Finance Committee bill than our original assumptions would have produced.” (Hay Group, “Impact Of Proposed Senate Finance Committee Health Care Reform Bill On The Nongroup Market,” P.1, 10/5/09)

MILLIMAN STUDY: “The combined effect of immediate implementation of the reform initiatives described above would be expected to increase average premiums over and above normal trend levels in both the small group and individual insurance markets.” (Milliman, “Analysis Of Impact Of Certain Healthcare Reform Initiatives on Health Insurance,” P. 4, 7/13/09)

WELLPOINT STUDY: “Health care reform legislation introduces several new broad taxes and fees that will further drive up health insurance premiums…” (Wellpoint, “Health Care Reform Premium Impact In Ohio,” p.17, 2009)

GALLUP POLL: “Americans Have Become More Likely To Say The Costs Their Family Pays For Healthcare Will Get Worse If A Healthcare Bill Passes…” (“In U.S., Half See Own Costs Worsening Under Health Care Bill,” Gallup, 10/22/09)

•    76% Say Their Costs Would Get Worse or Not Change
•    22% Say Their Costs Would Get Better

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER