Political Quotes

“it is said that the cruelest lies are often told in silence--in what you don't say. If that's the case, then the silence is deafening as the Medicare prescription drug legislation looms ever closer to final passage. We promised the American people we would protect and strengthen traditional Medicare. This legislation does the opposite--it begins coercing millions of seniors out the common Medicare insurance pool into private HMOs. It creates huge new tax shelters for the ultra wealthy with the ironic name of ``Health Savings Accounts.'' Meanwhile the very poorest seniors, those who also qualify for Medicare, will see their benefits slashed. The bill places draconian new caps on future Medicare services and spiraling new tax burdens on middle income working families. The bill inaugurates the process of means-testing and asset-testing seniors before providing them benefits--of checking their wallets before checking their health. It would also add heavy new financial burdens to state budgets already strained to bursting by federal cutbacks. All this in return for a pathetically inadequate prescription drug benefit and skyrocketing drug company prices and profits as far as the eye can see. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fooling our seniors shame on all of us. Mr. Speaker, this Medicare prescription drug bill is not what it is advertised to be. It is a cruel hoax and a danger to the health and well-being of America's seniors.”