HE HAD COVERAGE. MY SON. BUT THE COSTS WERE ASTRONOMICAL. YOU ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD THIS. SOME OF THE DRUGS ARE 10 TO $12- $15,000 PER YEAR. MAE SO OF YOU AND A LOT OF THE AUDIENCE HAVE GONE THROUGH, AS WELL. LET ME START OFF BY SAYING I LOVE DEBBIE'S SCHOLZ AND I MAKE NO APOLOGY. SHE IS NOT ONLY ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. I SERVED 36 YEARS OF THE CONGRESS. I SPENT TIME WORKING WITH DEBBIE. SHE WASN'T THERE NEARLY THIS LONG. WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS. I'LL SIE THE UNDERSTANDING. SHE WORKS IT OUT. SHE WAS ONE OF MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS IN HELPING ME NOT ONLY DRAFT THE LEGISLATION WE WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY. I DON'T HAVE A GREATER FRIEND IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. I DIDN'T HAVE A GREATER FRIEND WHAT I WAS VICE PRESIDENT. OR PRESIDENT. THERE YOU ARE. FOLKS, LAST TIME I WAS IN FLORIDA, IT WAS A MONTH AGO, BECAUSE OF HURRICANE IVAN. HE WAS SURROUNDED BY AIR AND OF THE HELICOPTER THERE. THE DAMAGE WAS ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE. IT WILL TAKE NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS BUT YEARS TO RECOVER AND REBUILD.
I ALSO MADE A COMMITMENT TO MY ADMINISTRATION AND FEDERAL VERNNT, EY WOULD GIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA. COMMITMENT WE WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL ALL IS DONE. STICK WITH YOU UNTIL ALL IS DONE. MY ADMINISTRATION IS TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE COMMITMENTS TO GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED. HELP TO REBUILD. SO FA PUT IN THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT DEBBIE HELP ME PASS, AS WELL, $1.7 BILLION IN GRANTS.
IT DRIVES THE STATE AND SMALL- BUSINESS HOUSEHOLDS. FEMA HAS MADE ASSISTANCE TO 26 COUNTIES TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING. 24 DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE FOR SURVIVOR'S TO REGISTER TO HELP. AND FEMA, HAS GONE DOOR TO DOOR TO REACH PEOPLE, AS WELL. THEY'VE PERFORMED OVER 180,000 HOME INSPECTIONS. 180,000 PERSONAL INSPECTIONS. U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION HAS APPROVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOANS AND THIS IS A REFERENCE THAT WE WILL BE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THIS CONTAINED $369 BILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OTECTION. FOLKS, WHEN I COME TO FLORIDA TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TWO VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS.
TWO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WILL AFFECT MANY AMICAN THEY ARE UNDER SIEGE BY OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS. THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, THIS IS ASOCI MEDICARE. THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. AND LYNDON MAYS JOHNSON SIGNED INTO LAW 50 YEARS AGO. THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASIC AND IMPORTANT. ALMO ALLMERINS, ALMOST 50% OF ALL THE AMERICANS LIVED IN POVERTY BEFORE THIS LAW WAS PASSED. HALF THE SENIORS LIVED IN POVERTY EVEN THOUGH WE SPENT A LIFETIME WORKING. AND NO HEALTHCARE ANYOU CAN COUNT ON IT. AND THINK OF WHAT IT DOES TO A PERSON'S DIGNITY IS. UNLESS YOU ARE WEALTHY THEY CANNOT EVEN THINK ABOUT RETIRING. IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD STARVE. THEN WE CAME TOGETHER AS HIS COUNTRY, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND WE HAD TO DO BETTER. AFTER WORKING HARD FOR DECADES PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT EXISTED AT THE TIME. THEY DESERVE TO RETIRE WITH DIGNITY AND PEACE OF MIND AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE. SOME OF YOU ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR YOUR GRANDPARENTS ARE OR YOUR PARENTS ARE. THEY EARNED IT. THEY EARNED EVERY SINGLE PAYCHECK THEY PUT MONEY AND SIN PAY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
AND THOSE ARE MORE THAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, THEY ARE A PROMISE. A PROMISE WE MADE AS A COUNTRY TO WORK HARD AND CONTRIBUTE. AN RETIRE WE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU AND BE THERE FOR THE BASIC NEEDS. THAT HAS BEEN A ROCKSOLID GUARANTEE, AND IRONCLAD COMMITMENT. GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE COUNTED ON IT AND IT WORKS. THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY HAS PLUMMETED SINCE SOCIAL SECUTY W CREATED. IT'S TRANSFORMED PEOPLE'S LIVES. HERE IN FLORIDA, 21% OF THE PEOPLE ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.
SOME ARE PEOPLE OF MEANS BUT THE VAST MAJORITY LIVE DAY-TO- DAY RELIANCE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. THAT'S WHY I WILL PAY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I BELIEVE EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I MEAN BASIC STUFF. HOW COULD A CHILD LOOK AT THEIR MOM AND DAD AND NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM AND STILL MAINTAIN THEIR OWN DIGNITY. I BELIEVE HARD WORK SHOULD BE REWARDED. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND, NOT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THAT'S WHY WE PASSED THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WHICH DEBBIE HELPED RIGHT, PASS AND MONITOR ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. AND A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MEDICARE. EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR IT EVERY SINGLE ONE. EVERY SINGLE ONE VOTED FOR IT. NOT ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT IN THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE. TAKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. FOLKS, WE PLAY THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THE PRESCRIPTION YOU HAVE FROM A DRUG MANUFACTURER IN THE U.S.
YOU GET AT THE LOCAL DRUGSTORE. YOU GET IN THE PLAN AND FLY TO PARIS AND GET THE SAME DRUG FOR LAST. HOW CAN THERE BE? WHY IS THAT THE CASE? THE VERY SAME PRESCRIPTION BY THE VERY SAME COMPANY. FOR YEARS, MANY OF US HAVE TRIED VERY HARD TO BRING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER CONTROL STOOD IN THE WAY. IG PHARMA HAS THEY BEAT US EVERY TIME. I STARTED THIS BATTLE WHEN I WAS A 35-YEAR-OLD UNITED STATES SENATOR. OVER THE PAST YEAR DRUG COMPANIES RAISE THE PRICE TO MAKE A REFERENCE TO WHAT MY INTRODUCER SAID, RAISED THE PRICE ON 1200 DRUGS, MORE THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION. LET ME GET SOMETHING CLEAR HERE.
HOLD FOR A SECOND. LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR. IT'S NOT THAT THEY DID ANYTHING MORE TO THE DRUG TO MAKE IT BETTER. THEY DID NOTHING. SAME EXACT DRUG WITH NO CHANGE. I UNDERSTAND IF THEY HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH IN THAT TRUCK AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND CHARGE MORE. I GET THAT. BUT NONE OF THAT. NONE. THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR THOSE DRUGS WAS RAISED OVER 30%. IN 2022 THE PRICE OF ONE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE, ONE THAT MILLIONS OF MEDICARE RECIPIENTS ARE RELIANT ON EVERY DAY INCREASED 500%. FIVE TIMES, THE EXACT SAME DRUG. NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER. ANOTHER DRUG TREATED AN AUTOIMMUNE CONDITI INCREASED BY $1000. $1000. FOR AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. AGAIN, NO CHANGE IN THE QUALITY, JUST CHANGING THE PRICE. AND THEY TALK ABOUT INFLATION. YOU KNOW INFLATION IS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ AND EXCUSE ME, THE WAR IN UKRAINE. I'M THINKING OF A RACK BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MY SON DIED. BUT THE POINT IS THAT THAT IS WHY IT IS UP.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST INFLATION RATE OF ALMOST ANY MAJOR COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE'VE DONE A LOT. I RELEASED MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL FROM OUR STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE AND IT'S DOWN $1.25 AND IT NEEDS TO GO MORE. THEY TALK ABOUT INFLATION ALL THE TIME. WHAT IN GOD'S NAME, AND THAT'S WHY I CALL IT THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. IF U HAVE TO TAKE A PRESCRIPTION THAT COST YOU AN ARM AND A LEG AND I REDUCE IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH IT REDUCES YOUR COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION.
AND BY THE WAY, I'M SERIOUS. MY DAD USED TO SAY EVERYONE DESERVES A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM. GRANTED, WHEN THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF GAS WENT UP WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. WE WEREN'T POOR. WE WERE IN AVERAGE MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY AND WE LIVED IN A SPLIT LEVEL HOUSE IN A SUBURBAN AREA. WE HAD FOUR KIDS AND THE GRAND POP LIVING WITH US. BUT WE WERE NOT POOR. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY OR ANYTHING LEFT OVER. AND SO IT WAS YOU HAVE ANYTHING LEFT? DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE BREATHING ROOM? LOOK AT THE DRUG PRICES ON AVERAGE AMERICANS. IT IS ACTUALLY OUTRAGEOUS. BUT THIS YEAR WE FINALLY BEAT PHARMA PARAGRAPH WE FINALLY BEAT PHARMA [ APPLAUSE ] NO. I HAVE BEEN TRYING THIS ALONG, LONG TIME. FINALLY. BIG PHARMA LOST AND AMERICANS ONE. THANKS TO THE DEMOCRATS AND THE CONGRESS. I HAVE A BAD REPUTAON O PARTISAN ENOUGH.
THIS ONE I AM PARTISAN. A LOT OF THESE GUYS CAME UP TO ME AND BASICALLY SAID, THEY CAN'T COME UP TO ME AND THE WHITE HOUSE BUT WHEN I SEE THEM THEY SAY I KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT AND IT WOULD COST ME MY ELECTION AND I WOULD LOSE TH PRIMARY. STARTING IN JANUARY IF BIG PHARMA TRIES TO RAISE PRICES THEY HAVE TO RIGHT A CHECK FOR THE DIFFERENCE BACK TO MEDICARE TO COVER THE DISTANCE, THE DIFFERENCE. LOWERING. INSTD OF MEY GOING TO COMPANIES BUYING BACK THEIR OWN STOCK, TO KEEP BUYING THEIR OWN STOCK BACK, THAT'S HOW THE EXECUTIVES GET PAID. 89% OF THEIR SALARY IS PAID ON FOR STOCK. IF YOU HAVE 100 SHARES OF STOCK AND YOU BUY BACK 50 THE 50 LEFT ARE MORE THAN 100 WITH EACH ONE. SAME TOTAL AMOUNT. AND ALSO, THEY ARE IN FACT PUTTING IT INTO THE POCKETS OF THEIR SHAREHOLDERS. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, PER RIING OPLE OFF TO GET ARE THERE.
BUT THIS TIME IT GOES INTO YOUR POCKETS FOR LOWER DRUG PRICES. LOOK. THE PRACTICAL THING AT LEAST IN MY HOUSEHOLD WHERE I WAS RAISED AS THAT ANS U HAVE MORE MONEY FOR THE CAR PAYMENTS, GROCERIES, WHICH ARE HIGH BECAUSE OF PUTIN AND CUTTING OFF GREEN SUPPLIES. YOU HAVE MORE MONEY TO PUT TOWARD HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR YOUR GRANDKIDS. IT'S ABOUT A BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ORDINARY AMERICANS. WITH THE DRUG COMPANIES ARE DOING NOW IS REALLY INFLATING YOUR COST OF LIVING. AND WE ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE WILL GIVE MEDICARE THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS. COULD WE FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THIS YEAR WE GOT IT DONE. DICA FINLY HAS THE POWER TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES. THEY CAN DO THAT NOW, AT THE VA AND PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THE VA CAN SAY YOU WANT TO SELL OUR VETERANS THAT TRUCK, WE ARE NOT PAYING THAT MUCH FOR IT. WE ARE ON GOING TO PAY 750. IT'S A GIGANTIC CUSTOMER. THE BIGGEST CUSTOMERS IN THE WORLD IS MEDICARE. THEY HAVE THE SAME PRESCRIPTION LOW THE SAME IF YOU ARE A SENIOR VETERAN ON A DRUG THAT ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE YOU ARE VA THAT IS ON THAT SAME DRUG IS A RETIRED BANKER OR RETIRED AUTO WORKER. GUESS WHAT. THE PERSON IN THE VA DESERVES IT AS BEING 54% LESS FOR THE SAME EXACT MEDICINE OR PRESCRIPTION. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. BUT NOW MEDICARE WILL HAVE THE POWER TO NEGOTIATE LOWER DRUG PRICES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE. AND THESE GUYS COME ALONG AND SAY YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO CHARGE YOU $0.10 FOR AN ASPIRIN. AND WE ARE ONLY GOING TO PAY VE. WON'T SELL IT TO YOU. NO PROBLEM. THEY WILL LOSE 50 BILLION ASPIRIN OR WHATEVER THE HELL THEY SELL. THE POINT IS THEY HAVE TO RESPOND. THEY WILL SEE THEIR OUT-OF- POCKET COSTS FOR EXPENSES, FOR SENIORS. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MY MOM AND DAD. THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE DAD. BUT, BUT, GUESS WHAT? NOW THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DRUG PRICES OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES YOU HAVE TO PAY IN ANY 1 YEAR IF YOU ARE A SENIOR ON MEDICARE OR SIAL CURITY WILL NOT BE MORE THAN $2000 A YEAR. THAT IS IT. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU CAN PURCHASE $15,000 WORTH OF DRUGS AND ONLY PAID $2000. $2000, PERIOD. WHETHER IT IS EXPENSIVE CANCER DRUGS OR ANY OTHER DRUGS THAT THEY NEED. MY SON, WHO DIED, THE COST OF DRUGS WERE ENORMOUS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DRUGS THAT COULD CAUSE $9000, $10,000, $14,000 A YEAR. SENIORS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONLY PAYING $2000 FOR ALL THE DRUGS THEY NEED.
NO STARTING IN JANUARY WE ARE CAPPING THE COST OF INSULIN. HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW SOMEONE WITH DIABETES WHO NEEDS INSULIN? GUESS WHAT. WHEN DEBBIE AND I PASSED THIS LAW, IT INCLUDED EVERYONE, NOT JUST SENIORS. WHAT HAPPENED WAS, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST TO MAKE INSULIN FOR DIABETES? IT WAS INVENTED BY A MAN WHO DID NOT PATENT BECSE H WANTED IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. I SPOKE TO HIM. OKAY? AND GUESS WHAT. IT COSTS $10 TO MAKE. IF YOU COUNT PACKAGING YOU CAN MAYBE GET IT TO $15. WELL GUESS WHAT? THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $35 A MONTH. AND STILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT PROFIT INSTEAD OF AN AVERAGE OF $400 A MONTH. LOOK, IT'S IMPORTANT. AND GUESS WHAT. IT AFFECTED I WAS AT AN INVESTMENT LIKE THIS IN VIRGINIA AND A WOMAN STOOD UP AND SHE SAID I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THEY BOTH HAVE DIABETES AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE INSULIN SO WE HAVE TO SHARE.
WE SPLIT IT IN HALF. IMAGINE A PARENT KNOWING THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE INSURANCE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT. TALK ABOUT BEING DEPRIVED OF YOUR DIGNITY. LOOKING AT YOUR CHILD. GOING TO HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE OR DIE WITHOUT ACCESS. MAYBE SO. ANYWAY. AND BY THE WAY, WE ARE MAKING HEARING AIDS MORE AFFORDABLE. AVAILABLE OVER-THE-COUNTER SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR EXPENSIVE VISITS TO SPECIALISTS. THE FDA ESTIMATES IT WILL SAVE PATIENTS $3000 PER SET OF HEARING AIDS. FOR SENIORS ON MEDICARE, RECOMMENDED VACCINES LIKE SHINGLES VACCINE E AVAILABLE FOR FREE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING $200 FOR THOSE SHOTS UP TO NOW. FOLKS, ON AVERAGE, FOLKS ON AVERAGE PAYING $200, AS MUCH AS TWO IN SOME PLACES I SHOULD SAY. AND GUESS WHAT. HOW MANY SENIORS SKIP THE SHOT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT? THEY WILL BE FREE NOW. YOU WON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE ANYMORE AND FOR YEARS THE FEE YOU PAY FOR MEDICARE TO COVER YOUR VISIT TO YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE HAS GONE UP.
NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN. FOR REAL. AND ON MY WATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS SENIORS GETTING AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS. CHECKS WILL BE UP AND MEDICARE PREMIUMS WILL BE DOWN. IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR SENIORS. ADD UP WHAT THEY ARE SAVING WITH THE $2000 CAP ON TOTAL DRUGS, 2000 FOR SENIORS IN A YEAR AND WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO CHARGE SO MUCH MORE. WI BE SAVED AND WE ARE SAVING SOME PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I SAID A YEAR REDUCING THE COST OF HEARING AIDS. THE COST OF SHINGLES SHOTS FROM $200 TO ZERO. THAT ADDS UP TO $5000 TO $10,000 A YEAR.
SOME BREATHING ROOM, AS MY DAD WOULD SAY. AT THE END OF THE MONTH. AT THE END OF THE YEAR. FOLKS, THIS IS HARD-WON. I WISH I COULD SAY OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS AND CONFERENCE MADE IT HAPPEN. I TRULY DO. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DO BIPARTISAN THINGS. EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY REPUBLICAN VOTED AGAINST THE SAVINGS. EVERY SINGLE ONE, INCLING SENATOR RUBIO.
NO, I WAS DISAPPOINTED. IT REALLY DISAPPOINTED ME. NOW LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US. THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN ARE TELLING US THE NUMBER ONE OFTHE NGRESS NEXT TUESDAY ROL NUMBER ONE, THE SPEAKER SAID, THE LEADER, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER SAID THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO REPEAL THE TH INCDES THE HUNDREDS OF D THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE IN TERMS OF ENERGY BILLS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH REGARD TO WEATHERIZATION. IF REPUBLICANS IN THE CONGRESS HAVE TO WAIT THE POWER WE JUST GAVE MEDICARE GOES AWAY. GONE. $2000 CAP OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, GONE. $35 A MONTH INSULIN GONE. SAVINGS ON MEDICARE PREMIUMS OF $800 A YEAR FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, GONE AND THEY ARE DETERMINED TO DO AWAY WITH THE ENTIRE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND THAT MEANS AND END OF PROTECTION FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. THE ONLY MEANS TO DO THAT IS THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. IF REPUBLICANS GET THEIR WAY THAT WILL BE GONE AS WELL. FOLKS, IT GETS EVEN WORSE. THEY ARE COMING AFTER SOCIAL SECURITY, AND MEDICARE, IN A BIG WAY. FOLKS HERE IN FLORIDA YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS.
I NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT SINCERELY. I NEED TO KNOW WHY. BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN SENATOR, SE I HAVE A BROCHURE HERE. HE IS IN CHARGE OF ELECTING REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CAMPAIGN. HE'S LAID OUT A CLEAR PLAN. EVERY FIVE YEARS SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WOULD HAVE TO BE REAUTHORIZED. IN THIS IS A REPORT AND I MADE IT LARGER IN THIS IS ALL THEY WANT TO DO. ALL FEDERAL LEGISLATION SUNSETS, MEANS GOES OUT OF EXISTENCE, IN FIVE YEARS. IF THE LAW IS WORTH KEEPING, CONGRESS WILL PASS IT AGAIN. SO EVERY FIVE YEARS CONGRESS HAS TO VOTE TO REAUTHORIZE SOCIAL SECURITY. REAUTHORIZE IT OR IT GOES AWAY. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO REAUTHORIZE MEDICARE. REAUTHORIZE VETERANS BENEFIT AND BUT GUESS WHAT. THE VERY IDEA THAT THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA WANTS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND THEY CAN CHANGE IT BASICALLY.
THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA GOING AFTER MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECUT IF SOME OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ALL BEEN, HOT, BOY. YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN BELIEVE IT. AGAIN, WORD FOR WORD, ALL FEDERAL LEGISLATION SUNSETS, MEANS GOES AWAY IN FIVE YEARS IF THE LAW IS WORTH KEEPING CONGRESS CAN PASS IT AGAIN. IN OTHER WORDS IT GOES OUT OF EXISTENCE IF CONGRESS DO NOT VOT ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL? AND ALONG CAME SENATOR JOHNSON, FROM WISCONSIN.
HE SAYS, FIVE YEARS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. NO, I REALLY MEAN IT. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. SAYTHATIS TOO LONG. EVERY YEAR. EVERY SINGLE YEAR IT SHOULD BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK ALONG WITH VETERANS BENEFITS. IF CONGRESS DOES NOT VOTE OR FIRMLY TO KEEP IT GOES AWAY. GONE. YOU'VE BEEN PAYING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND YOU EARNED IT. NOW THESE GUYS WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY. WHO IN THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE? EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE. [ APPLAUSE ] JUST IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN. A CHILD CARE WORKER IN THEIR MID 60s BEEN AT IT FOR 35 YEARS AND PAID IN EVERY PAYCHECK.
SHE IS GETTING READY TO RETIRE AND MAKE PLANS FOR E FURE. SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD COUNT ON MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND WITH THESE GUYS SHE DOES NOT KNOW ANYMORE. REPUBLICANS VOTE TO TAKE AWAY ANOTHER MEDICARE BENEFIT IN A FEW YEARS, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO HER PLANNING? IF THEY RE-INCREASE RETIREMENT AGE AND SHRINK BENEFITS, THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL DO. IMAGINE THE WIDOW HERE IN FLORIDA AND ALL SHE HAS LEFT IS SOCIAL SECURITY. WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO IF IT GOES AWAY. SHE DIDN'T HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY THE POVEY RATE OF PEOPLE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE WOULD BE FOUR TIMES OF WHAT IT IS NOW. IMAGINE A SENIOR WHO TAKES A COUPLE OF EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS FOR ARTHRITIS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, MORE THAN 1,000,000 PEOPLE WITH MEDICARE WHO HAVE TO SPEND MORE THAN $2000 FOR PHARMACY DRUGS. OK, R YES WE'VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF THESE PRESCRIPTIONS AND NOW FINALLY RELIEF FOR THE CAP. IF REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY INSTEAD OF LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING EXTRA MONEY IN THEIR POCKET IT WON'T HAPPEN. WILL THIS DRUG COSTS SKYROCKETING CONGRESS? THEY NEED A HELL OF A LOT OF VOTES BECAUSE I WILL VETO IT.
[ APPLAUSE ] BUT, LOOK, YOU MAKE CHANGES TO DRIVE DRUG CAUSE HIGHER AND IMAGINE LIVING TH AT UNCERTAINTY. WHAT DO REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO WITH THE MONEY? GUESS WHAT? THEY WANT TO CUT TAXES FOR THE WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS. IN 202,055 OF THE CORPORATE 500 COMPANIES, THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MADE $40 BILLION AND PAID ZERO IN INCOME TAX. I PASSED A LAW THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY A MINIMUM OF 15%. YOU ALL PAY MORE THAN THAT. 15%. WELL, THEY WANT TO REPEAL IT. IT WOULD ALLOW ME OTHE LARGEST MOST PROFITABLE COMPANIES IN AMERICA TO PAY ZERO AND THEY WANT TO EXTEND THE $2 TRILLION TAX CUT THAT BENEFITED THE WEALTHY AND THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS AND NOT A PENNY AND WHICH WAS PAID FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. WHAT HAS BECOME OF US? FOLKS, MANY PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON INFLATION.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING. BIG SPENDING DEMOCRATS. I SPEND A LOT OF MONEY DOG THESE THINGS. GUESS WHAT, I CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF. IN HALF. THE FEDERAL DEFICIT. THIS YEAR ALONE $1,000,000,000,400 REDUCTION $400 BILLION REDUCING THE DEBT. AND LAST YEAR $350 BILLION REDUCING DEBT. GIVE ME A BREAK. I'M SO SICK AND THEY SHOULDN'T GET GOING. COME ON, MAN? I MEAN, IT IS JUST AMAZING.
NO, THAT IS A FACT. AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER USED TO SAY, GOOGLE IT. I AM SERIOUS. WE CUT THE FEDERAL DEFICIT IN HALF WHILE DOING ALL OF THIS AND WE DID IT BY JUST GROWING THE ECONOMY IN MANY WAYS AND ALSO MAKING SURE PEOPLE PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND BY THE WAY, THE LARGEST TAX BREAK WERE FOR COMPANIES PAYING ZERO TO 15%. SCHOOL TEACHERS PAY MORE THAN 15%. SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS HERE.
QUICKLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT INFLATION. IF YOU WANT TO RAISE THE COST OF LIVING AND SENIORS GO AHEAD AND GIVE FREE REIGN TO DRUG COMPANIES. LOOK AT WHAT THESE DRUG COMPANIES HAVE DONE. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE CHRINGHEM . GO AHEAD AND REDUCE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COST OF LIVING FOR HARD-WORKING FLORIDIANS. AT THE END OF THE MONTH YOU HAVE NO MONEY.
THE THINGS YOU NEED, ARE THEY GOING UP? THEY ARE. THEY ARE. AND NOW THEY COME FORWARD WITH REAL TICKING TIME BOMB. THIS ONE IS OUTRAGEOUS. I MEAN IT AT THAT BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. NOW THE LEADERS ARE SAYING IF I DON'T COOPERATE IN CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY BETWEEN GOING BACK INTO SESSION AND THE END OF THIS TERM AND I DON'T SUPPORT CUTTING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY, THEY ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT BY NOT PROVIDING THE VOTES TO PAY OUR DERADEBTO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN ALL OF AMERICAN HISTORY. THEY WON'T GET IT DONE. BUT GUESS WHAT? REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THE REPUBLICANS TRIED THIS AND I WAS VICE PRESIDENT NEGOTIATING WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADER UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE DAY, I MEAN NEW YEAR'S EVE STAYED UNTIL CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT. WE FINALLY GOT IT RESOLVED BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO CONTINUE. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED? THE ENTIRE CREDIT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTWADEGRADED INTERNATIONALLY BECAUSE WE PLAYED THAT GAME. WE DID NOT EVEN DO IT AND THEY DEGRADED IT. LOOK, THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE. NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING WOULD CREATE MORE DAMAGE TO THE AMERICAN COUNTRY THEN WHETHER WE PAY OUR BILLS. LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE FACE THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES IN OUR HISTORY BOTH HOME AND ABROAD AND WE ARE MAKING REAL PROGRESS AND WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP GOING WHILE PROTECTING WHAT GENERATIONS BEFORE US DID AND MAKE SURE WE ARE THE NATION WE THOUGHT WE WERE. LOOK, I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS. I REALLY DO. I'M CONFIDENT. FOR EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AMERICAN PROSPECTS AND WE ARE BETTER SITUATED THAN ANY NATION IN THE WORLD.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NO, I AM NOT JOKING. THERE IS NOTHING, NOTHING BEYOND OUR CAPACITY IF WE SET OUR MIND TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND GOD GIVE OUR REPUBLICANS SOME ENLIGHTENMENT. THANK YOU. ♪ ♪ .
