Phil Gingrey: “it is good to be back tonight to talk on an issue that is really very, very dear to my heart. We have got an exciting…”

“it is good to be back tonight to talk on an issue that is really very, very dear to my heart. We have got an exciting day. In fact, I do not think I could even, though it is a late hour, I do not think I could go home and sleep tonight in anticipation of a historic moment tomorrow when we will finally deliver on a promise that has been made to our seniors, and that is a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start out by maybe addressing some of the remarks that I just heard made from the other side, and it is the kind of remarks which I would really refer to as ``Mediscare'' comments. I just heard the gentlewoman from Texas refer to the government not being able to set prices. I think that is exactly what the Democrats tried to do in 1993 under ``Hillary care.'' They wanted the government to set prices. They wanted a one-size-fits-all, essentially a national health insurance program, and the people of this great country rejected that. Another comment I have heard them say just repeatedly is this business about, well, who is going to benefit from this prescription drug availability for our seniors, who is going to benefit the most, and they keep saying, well, it is the drug companies, the evil, greedy drug companies. Well, of course, no duh. Who makes the drugs? Who has made this country the greatest Nation on Earth in regard to having access to life-saving drugs? The pharmaceutical industry. Who do we expect?…”