Political Quotes

“Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I hope everybody's been listening to this. What has become clear is this: the Republicans have a 3-act play. First, repeal IPAB; next, repeal the rest of health care reform; and, finally, repeal Medicare. It is so hypocritical to come forth and say that the efforts of Republicans is to protect Medicare when the purpose of it is to destroy it. That's what would happen if they had prevailed before. That's what would happen if they prevail today with their voucher plan. So the third act really came forth before the first act. They rolled out, yesterday, their budget plan that essentially would repeal Medicare, would destroy it. There would be a voucher and, over time, the end of Medicare. It's an essential commitment to the seniors of this country, and we Democrats are determined to thwart every effort to destroy it. Now, as to the first act, repeal IPAB. You know, it's interesting that Medicare is a major instrumentality for ensuring that over time the costs of Medicare are brought under control, protecting the health care opportunities of seniors. Indeed, there have been efforts already under the Affordable Care Act to bring under control the costs of Medicare, to make sure it survives. So being an essential part of controlling health care costs over the long term, the Republican proposal, essentially, would go in the opposite direction.…”