Jim Nussle: “Mr. Speaker, America has got a big decision tonight and seniors have been waiting a long time. The previous gentleman…”

“Mr. Speaker, America has got a big decision tonight and seniors have been waiting a long time. The previous gentleman said that seniors when they wake up tomorrow, if this passes, will find out they still have to pay a little bit of money. Some will not have to pay at all, but seniors will really be mad if they wake up tomorrow morning and find out that we failed yet again. Four budgets in a row we have had the pleasure of putting into our budget plan a prescription drug benefit. This year is the first time we have been able to get it to this point, a conference report; and that is because the President of the United States has provided the leadership to get us to this point. In Iowa we have been waiting for 20 years for fairness when it comes to reimbursement. We have been waiting for 20 years when it comes to the difficulty of recruiting physicians and other health care providers. We have been waiting 20 years to stop the cost shifting to the private side of health care that drives up the cost for small business people and farmers. We have been waiting for 20 years for seniors to have prevention and drug benefits and basic services. Tonight we have the opportunity to solve so many of these problems.”