Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker it gives me no greater disappointment to rise today in opposition to the co-called Prescription Drug and…”

“Mr. Speaker it gives me no greater disappointment to rise today in opposition to the co-called Prescription Drug and Medicare Modernization Act Conference Report. Since 1965 Medicare has been a vital instrument in ensuring quality healthcare to America's elderly and disabled. Medicare's 40 million beneficiaries use thousands of different health care products and services furnished by over 1 million providers in hundreds of markets nationwide. However, today a great number of you seek to dismantle Medicare with a fool's gold of a bill tilted the Prescription Drug and Medicare Modernization Act. Despite my Democratic colleagues' best efforts to make this an inclusive and comprehensive process; one that addresses the real concerns of America's seniors and disabled, we were shut out from negotiations. This is not a reform. This is a gutting of Medicare. It eviscerates one of the most successful great society programs in order to line the pockets of pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Speaker, I am disturbed to my core that any person in their right mind would find this bill fit to deliver to America's seniors.”