I am fully aware that as a Democratic Senator I am expected to vote with my party to support our President on this Healthcare Reform bill that is before us. I am also painfully aware that there are many millions of Americans--far more, actually, than the 45 million who currently have no health insurance--who are fervently hoping that this Senate and this Congress will pass historic legislation that will change the availability and the affordability of medical coverage for ALL Americans.

I realize that my decision to vote AGAINST this bill will almost surely cost me my seat in the Senate. I realize that no matter how I explain my rationale for my vote I will be portrayed as an obstructionist, as an enemy of the people, as someone who is "out of touch" with reality. I am keenly aware that those who favor the passage of this legislation are ready and able to mobilize a campaign to end my career. A campaign that will be funded by millions of corporate dollars and lead by skillful corporate operatives. A campaign that will try to convince the good people of my state as well as the people of this great nation, that I am not fit to represent them.

Nonetheless, my sworn duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to represent the best interests of my constituents and my nation, as well as my sense of personal honor and dignity, demand that I refuse to vote for this bill. I have heard the arguments for and against this piece of legislation, but I can no longer twist or turn or spin this as the kind of reform that is sorely needed to correct this growing threat to the well-being of our people and our nation. We are at a crossroads where a wrong turn will lead us farther away from the vision of a democratic America where every person has an opportunity to be a free and independent citizen, but will lead us into a dark future where most Americans will be subjected to more domination and control by the corporations who are now trying to solidify their stranglehold over the American people.

This bill has been portrayed as a bold first step toward healthcare reform that will give all Americans medical care that they can afford, when in fact, it is no such thing. It is a neutered, watered-down, negotiated-away compromise that has been engineered by health industry lobbyists who have spent over 635 MILLION DOLLARS--let me say that again 635 MILLION DOLLARS--to convince YOUR Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen to vote for a bill that benefits THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY at YOUR EXPENSE. By "YOUR" I mean the taxpayers who will ultimately bankroll most of the cost of this bill, either through insurance premiums or taxes. These lobbyists DO NOT work for the taxpayers of the United States of America. They work for corporate interests whose PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO INCREASE THE SHARE PRICE of the corporate stocks AND EXPAND THE PROFITS of the corporations by whom they are so handsomely paid.

The effort to reform our healthcare system is a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY, ladies and gentlemen. National security for every working man and woman in America, and for all people in America who do not have a job but who would like to have a good job and an opportunity to live a life free from bondage to corporate interests who are sucking the lifeblood from our nation. 750,000 Americans declare bankruptcy every year. 80% of those bankruptcies are due to the expense of medical care. Of those who go bankrupt, 65% HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. This is a national disgrace. This is a mark of shame for the greatest nation on this planet that we cannot provide for our citizens what EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION on the planet ALREADY provides for its citizens.

The only reason we cannot provide that security for Americans is because it threatens the profits of the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. That is why they are fighting so hard to defeat ANY REFORM TO OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, while portraying this bill as a step toward healthcare reform.

After hearing all of the arguments that have been presented by the various interest groups involved in this process, it is my considered opinion that THE ONLY WAY to provide quality healthcare to all of our citizens is to provide an opportunity for any and every American who desires to do so to enroll in Medicare. No one will be forced to participate in the Medicare system if he or she decides that their own private health insurance plan is satisfactory for them and their family. We already know how to implement this plan IF we decide to choose it. Yes, this is what is referred to by many as the Public Option and that is exactly what it is: an OPTION for Americans to buy into our existing system of healthcare that is currently serving our senior citizens, many of our veterans, and the members of our military services--AND SERVING THEM WELL.

By implementing this Public Option, we will reduce our healthcare costs by hundreds of billions of dollars simply by cutting out the INSURANCE MIDDLEMAN, the one who is the TRUE BUREAUCRAT who stands between most Americans and their medical care. The hundreds of millions of dollars that would be flowing into the pockets of Insurance Company CEO's will be used to provide care for Americans, to invest in training for medical professionals, to educate Americans about preventative practices, and to streamline our medical record-keeping and processing.

This Public Option is not a fantasy, or a pipe dream, or a pie-in-the-sky proposal. It is a workable solution to a NATIONAL EMERGENCY that demands decisive and immediate action.

I hereby beseech my fellow Senators and Congresswomen and Congressmen and the President of the United States to stand with me and do the right thing and the patriotic thing for our great nation. Thank you very much.