Political Quotes

“Madam President, the Paul Ryan/tea party budget of the House of Representatives privatizes Medicare. Let me repeat that. Medicare, the program of medical care for senior citizens that our seniors have come to depend on--the Paul Ryan/tea party budget of the House of Representatives privatizes Medicare. This is not an empty threat. It is not this Senator's or any other Senator's political interpretation. The budget of the House Republican Budget Committee chairman would end Medicare as we know it. It ends Medicare. It hands seniors' health care over to insurance companies. It would break a sacred contract between workers who paid into the system thinking it would be there for them when they retired. But under this new scheme, senior citizens will not have a Medicare Program anymore. They would have to pick an insurance plan, and a voucher would be given directly to the insurance company. Under the proposal--I am not making this up--a voucher, paid for by the Federal Government, would be given not to the senior citizen to go shopping, it would be given to the insurance company that they chose. Medicare for senior citizens would be turned over to insurance companies. If this sounds incredible, it is, because under that plan insurers would decide what doctors seniors get to see and what health benefits get covered. Now, why do I say that? That is an HMO. An HMO is a health maintenance organization. That is an insurance company.…”