Summary

[SENATOR JOHN KERRY (D-MASS) CONVERSATION ON HEALTHCARE FOR VETERANS / RS 171] [LITTLE ROCK, ARK USA] [Conversation on health care for veterans, Donald W Reynolds Ctr on Aging] [LITTLE ROCK, AR USA] 11:48:45 CLARK TAKES STAGE WITH KERRY AND INTRODUCES 11:51:19 KERRY TAKES MIC 11:51:27 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE, GREAT PRIVILEGE BY THIS LOCAL FELLA HERE WHO MADE GOOD NOT OFTEN THAT A YOUNG LIEUTENANT GETS TO BE INTRODUCED BY A FOUR STAR AND WHEN I WAS IN MILITARY I MET ANY STARS I WAS QUAKE WHEN CLARK ENDED HIS CAMPAIGN AND JOINED MINE HE MADE A GREAT STATEMENT OF SUPPORT 11:52:13 THIS ARMY OFFICER IS ASKING THIS LIEUTENANT TO COME ABOARD AND I WAS VERY TOUCHED IT'S MY PRIVILEGE THAT I'M IN ARKANSAS AND I'M ASKING HIM TO COME ABOARD (BOTH SALUTE) 11:52:55 VETERANS ISSUES, SUCH GREAT SERVICE GREAT EXPERIENCE SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS WITH YOU 2 BOATS DURING COARSE OF MY TIME, FRED WAS ON 94 BOAT, SERIES OF AMBUSHES 11:54:05 THERE ARE SO MANY WHITE COATS HERE, I GOT THIS ISSUE, I FEEL LIKE A QUICK EXAM HERE CHANCELLOR DOUG THIS IS ONE OF OUR GREAT INSTITUTES OF OUR COUNTRY, WES WAS GIVING ME AN INCREDIBLE BACKGROUND, AND I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE ON THE CENTER OF AGING AND BOY IS THE VA HAVE THAT WALKWAY TO UNBELIEVABLE CARE THANK YOU FOR LABORING FOR A HEALTH SYSTEM THAT IS ALWAYS IN CRISIS 11:55:06 DOCTORS FEELING THE BURDEN OF MALPRACTICE, MEDICAL ERRORS, OVERBURDENED GREATEST HEALTH CARE IN WORLD, BEST, BUT SYSTEM IN CRISIS AND WE DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT DOESN'T JUST KIND OF STIFF ARM IT AND PRETEND IT'S NOT THERE AND SHOVE IT OFF TO THE SIDE, DESERVE LEADERSHIP TO SIT WITH DOCTORS AND BRING PEOPLE TO TABLES AND HOW DO WE FIND A WAY IN THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY IN WORLD TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR US 11:56:04 I'VE LAID OUT HEALTH CARE PLAN, TOO LONG TO GO THROUGH, UNLESS YOU ASK ME A SPECIFIC ABOUT IT, BUILT ON LESSONS LEARNED IN 93 / 94 AND BUILD ON VALUE SYSTEM OF AMERICA, AMERICANS WANT TO CHOOSE DOCTOR, PLANS, DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO WE ARE A COUNTRY OF CHOICE AND FREEDOM AND COMPETITION AND NEED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT BUILDS ON THOSE PRINCIPLES FOUR YEARS TO ADDRESS AMERICA'S NEEDS AND CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTH CARE ALL THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED IS A SAVING PROGRAM THAT HELP PEOPLE SAVE, THAT CHERRY PICKS AN ASSOCIATION PLAN AND RAISES PREMIUMS AND MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN PUSHED PEOPLE OFF INTO HMO'S AND DOESN'T PROVIDE MEDICARE BENEFIT HARDLY WHAT YOU CAN CALL ADEQUATE 11:57:37 27 MILLION WILL BE BROUGHT INTO SYSTEM UNDER MY PLAN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING REAL AND SOMETHING FAKE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOST OF CHOICES I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ONE COMPONENT ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BEGINNING OF WEEK TALKED IN ERIE ABOUT COST, NEXT DAY I TALKED BOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, REDUCE COST OF HEALTH CARE BY PROVIDING 50% TAX CREDIT AND IF WE LOWER PREMIUMS THEN EVERYONE'S COSTS GO DOWN AND PROVIDE REAL CHOICE, TALK ABOUT IN ORLANDO FLA, ABOUT FAMILIES AND HOW WE BRING FAMILIES TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VETERANS 11:58:59 VETERANS EARNED THEIR HEALTH CARE, IT WAS A PROMISE MADE BY A NATION AND PEOPLE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT PROMISE FULFILLED HERE WE ARE WITH ADMINISTRATION CREATING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF VETERANS AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT THAT'S SECOND TO NOBODYJUST TO GET DOCTOR TO SIGN OFF ABOUT 90k JUST WAITING TO GET INTO VA COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF VETERANS IN TWO CATEGORIES AT END OF LINE, TOLD DON'T BOTHER APPLYING AT ALL, WE CAN'T HELP YOU 12:00:16 REASON IS BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS PLACED A HIGHER PRIORITY ON GIVING PEOPLE WHO EARN 200k A YEAR ANOTHER TAX CUT I THINK THAT'S WRONG, WHEN I'M PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT AND WRONG, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE FIRST DEFINITION IS NOT TALKING ABOUT IT, IT IS KEEPING FAITH WITH THOSE WHO WORE THE UNIFORM 12:01:02 TODAY EVEN THE VA ADMINISTRATOR, SECRETARY I MEAN, WENT TO CONGRESS AND SAID NEED ADDITIONAL 13 BILLION, LESS THAN WHAT MOST OF SERVICE GROUPS THINK WE NEED, STILL LESS THAN WE ARE SPENDING IN ONE MONTH IN IRAQ, TINY FRACTION OF WHAT WE ARE GIVING TO WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN NATION, OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS THINKS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO ORLANDO, HAVE A YOUNG WOMAN STAND UP JUST BACK FROM IRAQ AND SAY SENATOR I JUST COME BACK FROM IRAQ, AND I CAN'T EVEN GET THEM TO PAY ATTENTION 12:02:28 AFTER SERVING IN IRAQ, SENT HER TO GERMANY FINALLY SORT OF RESUSCITATED, AND LOST ALL HER FEELING IN LEFT LEG AND TELL HER, COMES BACK IN JULY, AND TOLD, WE CAN'T TAKE YOU IN VA IN OCTOBER, BUT IN THE MEAN TIME YOU HAVE PAIN GO TO LOCAL HOSPITAL 12:03:14 OF ALL THE FRONTIERS WE OUGHT TO BE AHEAD OF CURVE IT SHOULD BE THOSE WHO SERVED THINK ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT GOING FOR THEM CAN'T COVER KIDS, IN RICHEST COUNTRY ON FACE OF PLANET I'M GOING TO CONTINUE JOURNEY BY TRUMAN AND CLINTON, HEALTH CARE NOT SOMETHING FOR WEALTHY AND CONNECTED, IT OUGHT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AMERICANS 12:04:16 SO LET ME IF I MAY BEFORE WE GET TO S SOME OF THESE VETS, SHARE THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES JUST TALKING TO HERSHALL THERE IN 65/66 AND I THERE IN 68/69, DECORATED, BRONZE STAR AND REALLY SERVED OUR NATION WITH GREAT SENSE OF LOYALTY I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU WE ALL WELCOME (HERSHELL - THIS IS NOT KERRY) 12:11:50 I THINK THIS WAR WORSE THAN VIETNAM, OVER THERE THEY BECOME MARTYRS I'M PROUD OF THEM, I SEPARATE WAR FROM WARRIORS, I'M BEHIND TROOPS 100%, WE CANNOT BRING THEM HOME AND GIVE THEM TO MOM AND DAD AND SAY YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM, THIS HOSPITAL IS WONDERFUL, YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB, MONEY IS TIGHT AND REASON MONEY IS TIGHT CAUSE WAR GOING ON TAX CUTS NOBODY WANTED WE GOT ALL THESE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN ON I DON'T WANT A TAX CUT AND I'M A POOR BOY I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK DON'T LET PEOPLE DECIDE IF FOOD KNOW WHAT'S ITS' GOING TO COST ME? 44% INCREASE NOT A GREAT DEAL WE GOTTA HAVE A HEART, VA'S MISSION IS TO CARE FOR HIM 12:15:06 LET ME OPEN IT UP TO THOUGHTS FROM FELLOW VETS DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST BE ON VETERANS COMPONENT 12:15:50 I'M NOT CERTAIN HAVE YOU RUN INTO SPECIFIC VETS, I VISITED WALTER REED AND I THINK THEY'RE GETTING INCREDIBLE CARE, I THINK THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB ON EARLY INTERVENTION THERE ARE PEOPLE, HEARSHALL AND WES KNOW THIS, WHO ARE STAYING ALIVE WHO NEVER WOULD OF THEY'VE GOT FORWARD MASH UNITS THAT ARE 3 MINUTES, 2 MINUTES FROM BATTLEFIELD, AND ONTO A TABLE AND OPERATED ON BECAUSE OF BODY ARMOR THE PROTECTION LEVEL OF UPPER TORSO, YOU ARE SEEING MANY MORE AMPUTATIONS THEY'RE LIVING I SAW SOME OF THEM GOING TO BE THERE FOR WHOLE YEAR, NOT LETTING THEM OUT UNTIL REALLY READY TO GO SO I HAVE NOT YET RUIN INTO SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION JAMAL WAS WOUNDED, WHO DID PLEDGE, THE INITIAL MEDICAL ATTENTION 12:17:52 PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING BACK WHO NEED SUBSEQUENT ATTENTION ONCE OUT OF IMMEDIATE VORTEX OF FOCUSED PRIMARY CARE AND INTO ONGOING CARE, RE-ENTER, PEOPLE FINDING IT DIFFICULT EVERY VA I'VE BEEN TO MET DEDICATED OVERWORKED PEOPLE, DIFFICULTY IS NUMBERS AND AMOUNT OF MONEY ALLOCATED, THE PRESCRIPTION CO-PAY, COSTS GOING UP FOR VETS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT, BIG CONTRADICTION 12:19:12 AND A DISABILITY IS TO PAY YOU FOR COST OF MAKING UP FOR DISABILITY BUT THE VA SYSTEM, GOVERNMENT REQUIRES DISABILITY BE DEDUCED FROM PENSION, SO YOU PAY FOR YOUR DISABILITY HE HAS LOST 250,000 BECAUSE OF THAT DEDUCTION OUT OF PAYING FOR OWN DISABILITY THAT'S WRONG IT'S THE SECONDARY STAGE WE RUN INTO PROBLEM, INITIAL CARE IS STATE OF ART AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT 12:20:42 I AGREE WITH YOU, I SUPPORT IT AND GET MANDATORY FUND 12:25:43 THIS QUESTION WAS NOT A PLANT BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLEASE YOU ENORMOUSLY AND LAY OUT TO YOU A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN THAT WILL DEAL W WITH CHILDREN IN MY PLAN YOU CAN GO TO JOHNKERRYCOM STATE DOES NOT DO A GOOD JOB IN ENROLLING CHILDREN DONT' LIKE IT, TOO MANY CHILDREN DROPPING THROUGH SYSTEM AS RESULT IN MY PLAN I HAVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER ALL MEDICAID CHILDREN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS EVERY CHILD ENROLLED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN GO INTO SCHOOL, CHILD CARE, DOCTOR'S OFFICE, DAY CARE ENROLLED AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT THIS KIDS SICK WE SEND THEM HOME, AUTOMATIC COVERAGE IMMEDIATELY WHAT WILL STATES DO? THERE IS AN EXCHANGE HERE WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE STATES, WE WILL HAVE STATES COVER INDIVIDUALS UP TO 200% OF POVERTY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES UP TO 300% OF POVERTY WHY WILL STATES DO THAT? 12:27:45 DON'T LIKE DOING MEDICAID CHILDREN, GLAD TO GET RID, AND TWO THIS EXCHANGES IN A NET PLUS OF 5 BILLION DOLLARS, EFFECTIVELY PROVIDES HEALTH CARE AND DO IT IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY PEOPLE RUN FOR GOVERNMENT AND SAY WHY AREN'T WE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS? 12:28:37 EVERY GOVERNOR SAID WOW WE'LL DO THAT IN 10 SECONDS 12:29:34 WELL BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION BASICALLY HAS BEEN SERVING INTERESTS OF THOSE AS HERSHALL SAID, MOST COMFORTABLE, FOLKS MOST POWERFUL MOVERS I KNOW THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE POLITICAL I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO NOT HAVE IT SOUND THAT WAY TRUTH IS TRUTH, I'VE SEEN WASHINGTON WORK FOR 20 YEARS AGENDA SET BY POWER OF BIG MONEY IN AMERICAN POLITICS YOU SAW IT IN MEDICARE BILL I REMEMBER PICKING UP WALL STREET JOURNAL, DRUG COMPANIES GAIN IN COMMITTEE WHO LOST? THE REASON THEY WROTE BECAUSE THEY TOOK OUT SENATE BILL THE PROVISION YOU CAN IMPORT LESS EXPENSIVE DRUGS FROM CANADA ALSO TOOK OUT AND WROTE IN PROHIBITION ON NEGOTIATING BULK PURCHASE PRICES MEDICARE WHICH IS TAXPAYER FUNDED, SENIORS WHO REQUIRE MORE MONEY 12:31:20 THE DRUG COMPANIES WANTED TO KEEP REVENUE STEAM COMING IN THIS ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T STAND IN AND SAID NO THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH FOLKS, READ ABOUT IT YOURSELF AN RESEARCH IT WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO NEEDS YES WE WANT COMPANIES TO MAKE A PROFIT AND DRUG COMPANIES TO DISCOVER NEW DRUGS BUT A REASONABLE STANDARD SO DRUG COMPANIES ABUSING THE PATENT PROCESS AND EXTEND THE RIGHTS TO IT SHOULDN'T ALLOW IT TO GAMES PLAYED RAISED PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY 50% THIS IS A QUESTION OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE RADICAL DRIVING UP DEFICITS, BIGGEST DEFICITS IN HISTORY, AND PULLING WOOL OVER PEOPLES EYES 12:32:58 FIGHT FOR COMMON SENSE, WANT COMPETITION WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CHOICE, IN MY HEALTH CARE PLAN IT'S NOT A GOVERNMENT PLAN WE LEARNED THAT IN 93 / 94, IT'S A CHOICE GOVERNORS CAN CHOOSE 12:33:23 PREMIUMS GONE UP 50% IN LAST FEW YEARS, COPAYS GONE UP DEDUCTIBLES UP BENEFITS DOWN, CAN'T CONTINUE ON THAT ROAD AND NOT HAVE WHOLE SYSTEM IMPLODE 4 MILLION UNCOVERED THAN WHEN BUSH BEGAN DOES BUSH HAVE A PLAN TO DEAL WITH COSTS, DOES HE TALK ABOUT COSTS, WHOLE PLAN ON CONTINUING TO FEED MONSTER, I WANT TO TAME IT AND HARNESS CREATIVE ABILITY I WILL CREATE A FEDERAL FUND FOR MONEY TO HOLD OUT TO COMPANIES IN BARGAINING DEAL, I'M NOT GOING TO FORCE THEM TO DO IT BUT I WILL MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE 163 MILLION GET HEALTH ARE THROUGH COMPANIES WHAT I DO IS TAKE THE CATASTROPHIC CASES, 50k OR MORE OFF BACKS, OUT OF SYSTEM AND OFFER THEM A DEAL, IF THEY AGREE TO PASS ON SAVINGS TO EMPLOYEES AND A HEALTH WELLNESS EDUCATION PLAN, SO PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT DIABETES AND CANCER ALL THEY HAVE TO DO WE ARE GOING TO PAY 75% COST OF THOSE CATASTROPHIC CASES 12:35:25 PREMIUMS REDUCED BY 1000 A PERSON, NOW THAT'S A REAL TAX CUT, THAT YOU CAN TAKE HOME PUT IN POCKET BUY GROCERIES, PAY TUITION, EMPOWER AMERICANS AND LOWER COST OF DOING BUSINESS 12:35:51 THEN YOU CAN COMPETE AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES I HAVEN'T' MET A CEO OF ANOTHER COUNTRY, NOW THE OTHER THING WE DO IS WE CAN'T GO ON FEEDING A SYSTEM I HAVE A QUALITY CARE INCENTIVE AS YOU KNOW WE GOT TOO MANY MEDICAL ERRORS IN SYSTEM IN VA SYSTEM WE GOT GREAT TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTERIZED ADMINISTRATION, PAIN MEDICATION WE DON'T HAVE IT IN A LOT OF HOSPITALS IN AMERICA ONLY AMERICAN SYSTEM WORKS WITH AN OVERHEAD 350 BILLION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STRENGTH 12:37:00 YOU GO TO A BANK AND PULL OUT MONEY IT'S ONE PENNY A TRANSACTION, HOSPITAL IT'S 25 A TRANSACTION HOSPITAL DIGGING INTO RESERVES, WE GOT TO EMPOWER THEM TO GET TECHNOLOGY AND CREATE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND REDUCE OVERHEAD AND WE CAN DO THAT AND REDUCE COST OF HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA 12:37:44 I'M TOLD BY EXPERTS THAT WE SPEND 100 BILLION ON DIABETES, AMPUTATION AND DIALYSIS, CAUGHT THEM EARLIER WE CAN REDUCE DELIVERY WE CAN DELIVER FAR MORE EFFICIENT CARE, YOU'D BE HAPPIER AND MORE AMERICANS COVERED AND DELIVERED IN A EFFICIENT WAY BUSH HAD 4 YEARS TO BRING TO TABLE, HE HASN'T AND IT'S LONG SINCE TIME OVERDUE 12:39:36 NOT GOING TO DISCUSS HOW WHEN WHAT, THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING BY IT 12:40:02 NOT ONLY AM I GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT I WILL LEAD THIS COUNTRY TO BELIEVE IN SCIENCE ADVANCE (STANDING OVATION) ALSO LONG OVERDUE IS AN EFFORT TO RESPECT THE ETHICAL GUIDELINES BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO STEM CELL RESEARCH IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA YOU KNOW ALMOST 55% OF MEDICARE GOES TO 5% OF POPULATION, ALZHEIMER, WE NEED TO BREAK THROUGH, DEAL WITH ISSUES, INCOMPREHENSIBLE 12 ICONS, GREECE ROME EGYPT, WE'RE THERE FROM SCIENCE, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT THE WAY THIS ADMINISTRATION 12:42:02 I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT HOW SYSTEM WORKS NOW YOU HAVE TO BUY IN, WE GOT TO CREATE SOMETHING MORE OF A GI BILL AS A RESPONSE I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A PROMISE I CAN'T KEEP BECAUSE OF DEFICIT I HAVE PLEDGED TO REDUCE DEFICIT IN FIRST 4 YEARS, PAY AS YOU GO, SO WE SHOW AMERICANS HOW TO PAY FOR THINGS WE ARE DOING, I'M GOING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH TAX CODE OF 17,000 PAGES LONG AND LOOK AT NON-ECONOMIC PAGES PAID FOR, WIDDLE THOSE AWAY TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT ARE A GREATER PRIORITIES AND TELL AMERICAN PEOPLE TRUTH ABOUT OUR BUDGET CHOICES AND TRUST COMMON SENSE OF VALUES OF AMERICANS 12:43:41 LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING I HOPE NO PATIENTS HAVE BEEN RINGING BELL WHILE YOU'RE HERE I KNOW WHAT A GREAT INSTITUTION THIS IS, I KNOW RESEARCH, GREAT RESEARCH CENTERS OF COUNTRY ASK YOU TO TALK TO NEIGHBORS TALK TO FRIENDS, COMMON SENSE STRIP AWAY LABELS, THIS IS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY THIS IS ABOUT REAL COMMON SENSE CHOICES YOU CAN'T DO IT ABANDONING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN EVERY BIT OF NATION, FARM SYSTEM OF PRISONS SPEND 50k TO SEND SOMEONE TO JAIL RATHER THAN PUT MONEY INTO HEAD START, EARLY START 12:44:56 NEVER MET A PERSON IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHO HAD ALTERNATIVES JOBS BEING CREATED IN AMERICA 10 / 12,000 DOLLARS LESS WAGES GOING DOWN NOT UP, CLINTON THEY WENT UP, BUSH THEY WENT DOWN MORE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE SIMPLE QUESTIONS IF THEY ARE DOING TODAY THAN 4 YEARS AGO I KNOW I CAN WAGE A WAR ON TERROR THAT IS MORE THOUGHTFUL, REACHES OUT TO OTHER COUNTRIES, AND MAKES AMERICA SAFER AND STRONGER THAN THIS CROWD IS WE HAVE TO TALK COMMON SENSE TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, IF YOU DO THAT ARKANSAS CAN HELP DECIDE THIS RACE AND I HOPE YOU WILL