Tom Harkin actually said...

"This will also reduce premiums, because insurance companies will no longer be allowed to investigate the health condition of employees--eliminating the wasteful cost of underwriting."

"I'm very pleased that our legislation will increase competition by providing small businesses with a choice of a public insurance plan."

"This time, we will not fail."

"So today I'm announcing my own investigation into the pricing practices of health insurance companies that sell policies to small businesses."