Tom Harkin: “I could not believe my eyes this morning when I opened up the front page of the newspaper. And here is the headline, Mr.…”

“I could not believe my eyes this morning when I opened up the front page of the newspaper. And here is the headline, Mr. President: ``Gingrich places low priority on Medicare crooks, defends cutting anti-fraud defenses.'' Well, what is this all about, Mr. President? Well, what it is about is the House bill, the House bill on Medicare reform, which I think ought to be titled, ``The Scam Artist Protection Act.'' But, Mr. President, do not take my word for it. Here is a letter dated September 29 from the inspector general's office of the Department of Health and Human Services. It says: However, if enacted, certain major provisions of H.R. 2389-- The House bill. would cripple the efforts of law enforcement agencies to control health care fraud and abuse in the Medicare program and to bring wrongdoers to justice. ``Would cripple their efforts.'' And so the Speaker yesterday says, ``It is all right. No big deal.'' He said that it is more important to lock up murderers and rapists than dishonest doctors. Well, it is important to lock up murderers and rapists. You bet it is. But what does that have to do with Medicare fraud? Talk about using a logic that just about takes all right there.”