Jim Nussle: “I rise in support of H.R. 4954, the Medicare Modernization Prescription Drug Act. It is a good bill. It fits within a…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4954, the Medicare Modernization Prescription Drug Act. It is a good bill. It fits within a budget. It fits within a budget plan. We have got a budget. We have got a plan. It meets the needs of seniors. It meets the needs of health care providers. It meets the needs for the future. In 1965, Medicare should have included a prescription drug benefit. For many years after 1965, Democrats had the opportunity to propose legislation for a prescription drug benefit. In fact as early as 1993, they controlled the House, the other body and the House down the road here, and did not do a thing for seniors on prescription drugs; and now tonight they rush in, claim that we will not let them have the substitute when in fact their substitute costs almost a trillion dollars; and that is the reason they cannot have it, because it does not fit within a budget, and it does not fit within a plan. Mr. Speaker, just 3 hours ago they were screaming that we had to raise the debt ceiling because we were spending too much. Tonight they are claiming we are not spending enough. Vote for this bill.”