Al Franken: Spars With GOP Leadership On Senate Floor, Accuses Thune Of Not Reading Health Bill (VIDEO)

Al Franken (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) were off the charts on Monday, at least by the Senate's typical debate standards.

In response to a speech by Thune, fourth in the Republican leadership, the freshman legislator honed in on claims made about benefits in the proposed health reform package.

"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts," said Franken. "Benefits kick in right away, and if you're going to hold up a chart that says when taxes kick in and when benefits kick in, you say '1,800 days,' you better include the benefits that do kick in right away."

Thune asked Franken to yield for a question, which led to a terse exchange.

"We gave the other side 30 minutes," chimed in Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "Senator Thune wants to sort of monopolize our 30 minutes."

"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts," Franken repeated after the back-and-forth. "The fact is benefits kick in on day one, and the large majority of benefits kick in on day one. And we shouldn't be standing up here with charts that say the exact opposite."

Later, while riffing with Brown, Franken added, "Senator Thune did say that none of the benefits started next year. He just, I guess, hasn't read the bill."

WATCH:

Comments

[Dunkleberger Karl]

02:07 PM on 02/28/2010

Al forgot "if your a fireman and you put out a fire, your a hero. But if your a fireman and you put out the fire that we later discover you set, you dont get credit, you aint no hero, and your damn lucky to not end up in jail!

[RRundbaken]

08:16 PM on 02/04/2010

Every time the GOP and its minions at Fox state a lie someone should stand up and call them on it. Since the summer we have heard nothing but lies and no one has given a forceful voice to refute them. Shame on you all.

[n5ifi]

08:38 PM on 12/28/2009

I'm not a fan of Al Fraken. BUT
That being said he has done the GOP and party members a wonderful favor. I say if they (GOP) have done wrong then nail them to the wall. They should be above reproach. Bring it out. Bring it all out.
But the question is will AL do the same thing for his side of the isle? I doubt it. I've said it time and time again. Right is right and wrong is wrong. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Will Franken do the right thing? I don't think so. Only time will tell. As a fiscal conservative, I actually hope I'm wrong.

[KevinFitzz]

12:45 PM on 01/01/2010

As a fiscal conservative, you must have loved W.

[Debra Barbre]

02:18 PM on 01/06/2010

I'm really tired of this tactic by the GOP. Al was right and Thune was wrong. Period.

Whenever you're caught in a lie, your first comment is "Well, they did it first." or "They do it, too." (like 4 year olds). I hear every GOP pundit do this every day on TV.

It stops the argument, and you know it...but it sure doesn't get us anywhere. Sherrod Brown is right. If you're just going to vote against the bill then why do you need to read it.

Either come up with something progressive or sit down and shut up.

[violettefemme]

07:48 PM on 12/28/2009

Al Franken shows us that every US Senator should be a Senator for the entire nation, not just their own constituents. I feel he has my back better than any elected leader in DC at present, through exactly this kind of thing, demanding truth, shining a light on the B$ and outing the rest.

God Bless his raw nerve and brilliant mind.

[Ds2vet]

04:28 PM on 01/08/2010

I just emailed his website praising him for what he did. Saying I wish he could run in ohio next.

[tonedef]

12:52 PM on 12/19/2009

I thoroughly enjoyed that. "We are not entitled to our own facts." I love it.

[Yelocrab]

03:42 PM on 12/18/2009

Come on, man! COME ON, MAN! Al Franken is a rookie piker. The line he used on Thune was lifted from history, too. Google it, check it out. I hate it when the undeserving receive credit for the use of the well-crafted words of others. Is there someone here that really believes Al Franken is a badass?

[LCDTV]

06:04 PM on 12/19/2009

yes i do!

[violettefemme]

08:35 PM on 12/28/2009

Me too!

[Debra Barbre]

02:20 PM on 01/06/2010

Totally. Absolutely, he's a bad ass.

I use other people's words every day. Actually, ever word I just typed has been used before.

And I'm a bad-ass too.

[Plebean]

02:05 PM on 12/16/2009

Pwned!

[murphysgirl]

11:34 AM on 12/16/2009

Al Franken rocks!! I'm so glad he won the Minnesota election!! He's a breath of fresh air, and I loved how Sherrod Brown kinda helped double team Thune..

[James Weinkauf]

07:25 AM on 12/16/2009

CBO: 99% Of Coverage Spending Doesn’t Kick In Until 2014

[Sam Kent]

01:49 AM on 12/16/2009

Senator Franken sparred with Senator Thune and got knocked off the log right into the swamp. Thune was CORRECT in stating that "taxation" would start in 18 days and Benefits in 1479 days. Franken argued, "no, the benefits would be starting immediately" and went on to list several. And Franken also went on to state that he was tired of the other side of the aisle making up facts. It turns out that the fact is: 99% of the Benefits start in 1479 days (January 1, 2014). Senator Franken, you made quite a fool of yourself. [How many bowed heads must have been silently and sadly shaking on both sides of the aisle and now nationally. ] Next time, Al, you ought to read the Bill first or at least get to the Senate in time to hear a full speech. To the liberals out there: you don't want to defend this one!

[metalhead971]

10:25 AM on 12/16/2009

You should learn about what you talk about before you post nonsense like this. Otherwise, you look like a fool. And yes, I (a liberal) do want to defend this one.

Fact: Numerous benefits from Senate health care bill would "be available in the first year after enactment" of the bill

Senate Democrats note "Immediate Benefits" of health care bill. According to a document put forth by Senate Democrats summarizing the "Immediate Benefits" of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the bill includes numerous benefits that would "be available in the first year after enactment" of the bill. Indeed, WashingtonPost.com blogger Ezra Klein published the following list of benefits that the Senate bill would provide "before 2014":

1) Eliminating lifetime limits, and cap annual limits, on health-care benefits. In other words, if you get an aggressive cancer and your treatment costs an extraordinary amount, your insurer can't suddenly remind you that subparagraph 15 limited your yearly expenses to $30,000, and they're not responsible for anything above that.

2) No more rescissions.

3) Some interim help for people who have preexisting conditions, though the bill does not instantly ban discrimination on preexisting conditions.

4) Requiring insurers to cover preventive care and immunizations.

5) Allowing young adults to stay on their parent's insurance plan until age 26.

And many more. Check this website for more info:
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1109/Major_reforms_delayed_until_2014.html

[dukeuch]

01:16 PM on 12/16/2009

Your 99% figure is simply incorrect.

But skipping over that, assuming you have a job, right now you are paying taxes for Medicare. How many days until you get any benefits? Are you angry about that? Got life insurance? How many days until you get benefits from that? 401K? How many days until you can access that money without penalty?

[bigdog107]

04:35 PM on 12/19/2009

These examples aren't done that way in order to cover up their true cost though, are they?

[JPFranklin]

12:26 AM on 12/16/2009

My two favorite Senators Sherrod Brown and Al Franken! Al makes a great point, facts are facts, and the GOP has been making up their own facts for too long. From the health care "debate", to the global warming "debate", to the evolution/creation "debate", the b s needs to end and we need to start dealing with reality instead of fantasyland. Why are conservatives so unaware that the wool is being pulled over their eyes? Why can't they just research the facts for themselves? It's really sad and baffling to me that they just can't get it. READ THE BILL, that's all you have to do...

[bigdog107]

05:09 PM on 12/19/2009

You seriously don't understand that most of the benefits don't start until 2014? Why can't you just research that fact for yourself? Its really sad and baffling to me that you just can't get that.

[mrpotatohead]

05:09 PM on 02/06/2010

I would think that the Republicans would be supportive that most benefits don't kick in right away. It sounds like an attempt to pay for the plan somewhat in advance of the costs as opposed to simply adding it to the deficit.

[Willymilly]

10:33 PM on 12/15/2009

Grateful to Franken for his challenge. Thune's rise frightens me. I am a SD resident transplanted from ND. Thune has much in his past, besides this performance, that bears a close scrutiny. Both personally and politically.

[brt929]

01:25 PM on 12/16/2009

Is Thune a member of the Family?

I thought I heard that he was.

[GreenNuke]

07:12 PM on 12/15/2009

Senator Franken just demonstrated the difference between 'Statesmanship' and 'Used Car' salesmanship.

[MichB1]

05:27 PM on 12/15/2009

Al is the MAN.

[sixchair]

04:09 PM on 12/15/2009

You can't spell b.a.l.l.s. without al!