Political Quotes

“Mr. Cohen, thank you very much. You pointed out the nature of the debate taking place on the floor. I listened to much of the debate this afternoon as it was going on, and tomorrow it is probably going to be the same. Like you, I was surprised and in many cases disappointed with the rhetoric that I heard. It simply wasn't based on fact. They talked about the government takeover of health care. You used the word ``big lie.'' Well, in fact it is not going to happen. This is not the government takeover of health care. There are many who said we simply should take Medicare and expand it to all. Now that is a program that is government collection of the money, but the services are provided by individual doctors, hospitals, and other provider groups. It is not a government takeover; it is a government finance program. You mentioned the uninsured. Actually, it is about 42 million uninsured in America. They get sick. Who pays for them when they go to the emergency room? They don't have an insurance policy. They are certainly not going to be able to afford the cost of an emergency room and any procedure. Those people who are uninsured do get sick. They do go to the emergency room, and they do get medical care. And who pays, the taxpayer.”