Rick Allen: “Mr. Speaker, anyone who has been half awake for the last 2 years knows that for Republicans tax cuts for the wealthy are…”

“Mr. Speaker, anyone who has been half awake for the last 2 years knows that for Republicans tax cuts for the wealthy are far more important than prescription drugs for seniors. In the room upstairs, Republicans can call Medicare a Soviet-style program; but down here on television, they say they are providing a Medicare benefit. The Republican plan relies on private, stand-alone prescription drug insurance plans. They do not even exist now, and they probably never will. No guaranteed benefits, no guaranteed premium, no guaranteed reduction in price. Their plan is an empty promise. We have been asked where is our plan. The truth is my colleagues will not let us vote on it. Why? Because they know that a real Medicare benefit would reduce prescription drug prices. That is not acceptable to the pharmaceutical companies, so it is not part of the Republican bill. Many Americans may be confused by this debate. All these numbers, estimates, projections. Just remember that Republicans get most of the money from HMOs and pharmaceutical companies. This bill is great for them, but it is a fraud on America's seniors.”