JOHN LINDER: “We have had an interesting debate here. We had a parade of female Democrats march down citing the mantra that this bill…”

“We have had an interesting debate here. We had a parade of female Democrats march down citing the mantra that this bill does nothing for senior women. In fact, not one of them spoke with any particularity to the bill. We had the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) step up right after that and list time after time after time where this was of benefit for women across the country and most particularly low-income women. Women have been abused by our social service programs from Social Security through Medicare. This is the first time that any party or any Congress has made an effort to fix that. This is a genuine improvement on this current circumstance. Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored. It was a fact that, some time ago, the Democrats controlled this body for 40 years and controlled the White House from time to time in the midst of that and never once put forth this important program. It was a fact that when I came here in 1993 they had overwhelming majorities and a President who was enthusiastic about taking over the health care system. But they did not ever put on the floor for a discussion or debate any prescription drug program for either side to consider.”