Robert Berry: “I do not believe that the close elections give a mandate to gridlock. The American people expect us to get something…”

“I do not believe that the close elections give a mandate to gridlock. The American people expect us to get something done, and they should. Health issues are certainly among the most hotly debated issues in the campaign. Both sides promised to advance a Patients' Bill of Rights and Medicare coverage for prescription drugs. I see no obstruction or barrier that is so great that Congress and the new President should not be able to work out important ideological differences that exist, and reach an agreement soon. Last week I was happy to join with others in introducing a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights legislation that will ensure that every American with private health insurance has basic guaranteed protection. While some HMOs behave responsibly, the legislation is desperately needed to protect the vulnerable from insurance bureaucrats who place profits above all else. I encourage President Bush to come to the table and work with us to ensure a meaningful legislative package is enacted this year. For the sake of thousands of patients who are inappropriately denied health care daily, time is of the essence.”