Tom Price: “we all commend the President- elect for his vision of hope and of bipartisanship. It was with that same spirit of…”

“we all commend the President- elect for his vision of hope and of bipartisanship. It was with that same spirit of bipartisanship that the original SCHIP bill was adopted in the mid-1990s when Republicans and Democrats recognized together the need for assisting children in low-income families by providing access to health insurance. Remember? Probably not, because it was done quietly and proudly together. That's in stark contrast to now. With overbearing partisanship from the majority's cramming this highly charged bill through today and by ignoring vital problems, this bill will throw 2.4 million kids off private, personal health insurance into government-run bureaucratic medicine. You talk about immoral. This bill requires over 20 million new smokers, Madam Speaker--new smokers--in order to pay for it. How very cynical. That's a problem, because there were so many positive alternatives. I introduced with over 20 of my colleagues More Children, More Choices that would have provided up to $42,000 of coverage for the original children, premium assistance of up to $64,000 and then State flexibility beyond that. Bipartisan rhetoric is hollow if it is not followed with bipartisan action. This bill does not do that. It betrays the spirit of the President-elect, and it betrays all Americans. I call on the Speaker to begin an open and positive process, respecting all Members and respecting all Americans.”