Gus Bilirakis: “I would say I wish I had $100 for every hour that I spent in the wee hours of the morning during the time that the…”

“I would say I wish I had $100 for every hour that I spent in the wee hours of the morning during the time that the gentleman's party was in charge of this House. Mr. Speaker, we have before us today an opportunity to finally provide our constituents with a meaningful prescription drug benefit that our Nation can afford. To finally do it; to finally do it, not to merely talk about it and to demagogue it. For four decades the other party controlled, and they did nothing. It seems every time we, since gaining the majority, attempt to meet a need, the Democrats finally awaken with nay comments. They do nothing. We attempt to do something, and they call our efforts a charade. We have not taken a pass, as one gentleman from the other side of the aisle said earlier. I would suggest the gentleman's party, which controlled for 40 years, took the pass. While the bill before us certainly is not perfect, and we have admitted that, it targets the $400 billion available under our budget resolution towards areas where it can do the most good. Our bill provides a great deal of assistance to our low-income seniors. In fact, seniors who earn under $13,470 as a single or $18,180 as a couple will only be responsible for nominal copayments and will not experience a coverage gap. This is very generous coverage for the population of seniors who need it the most.”